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Nombre De Dios




Nombre de Dios (") is a city on the Atlantic coast of Panama in the Colon Province .

Founded as a Spanish Colony in 1510 by Diego De Nicuesa , it was one of the first Europe an settlements on the Isthmus Of Panama and it is currently the oldest, continually populated town in Panama. Originally a major port of call for the Spanish Treasure Fleet , Nombre de Dios was situated near an unhealthy Swamp , and was nearly impossible to Fortify . Francis Drake sacked the colony in June of 1572 , and ambushed the "Silver Train", a mule convoy carrying a fortune in Precious Metal s, in March of the following year.

By the 17th Century Nombre de Dios had been all but abandoned by the Spanish , and its importance to the treasure fleets had been surpassed by Puerto Bello . The town still exists today, though it is nowhere near as large as it was in the 16th Century .

Nombre de Dios is mentioned by Derek Walcott in ''The Prodigal'':

Caravels slid over the horizon.

The flags of the sea-almonds wilted

and yard-smoke drifted, forked as Drake's beard,

sacker of Nombre de Dios. (p. 46)



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