Marseilles

City on the coast of southern France, an important Mediterranean port founded in either c 600 or 540 BC according to tradition. Originally it was a colony of Phocaea in western Turkey. By c 535 BC, they were prosperous enough to dedicate a treasury at the sanctuary of Delphi in mainland Greece. Even under Roman rule, the port was fairly independent and maintained its Greek culture. There are remains of Roman docks.

[Greek Massalia; Roman Massilia]. Situated at the Bouches-du-Rhône in the south of France, the city was an important Mediterranean port from the end of the 7th century bc and throughout antiquity. The traditional date of foundation, by Phocaean settlers, is put at about 600 BC. With their excellent harbour, the Massiliotes were already prosperous enough by c535 bc to dedicate a treasury at the sanctuary of Delphi in mainland Greece. Daughter trading colonies were rapidly established along the coast of Spain (see Ampurias), in the Golfe du Lion, along the Ligurian coast, and on Corsica. Trading links were energetically pursued up into many areas of western and northern Europe. Prosperity received only a temporary setback when, in 49 BC, the city had to yield to Caesar after the error of siding with Pompey. Even under Roman rule, the port managed to remain more or less independent, certainly in outlook, and preserved in large measure its distinctively Greek culture. Characteristic of loyal devotion to the Greek deities of Artemis and Apollo are silver and bronze coins minted by the city, which bear their images. Perhaps most interesting among the surviving evidence are the remains of the Roman docks (Musee des Docks Romains).