The Greeks are well known for their ancient tales of glory and tragedy, as well as their civilization’s innumerable contributions to the very foundations of our modern world, according to greekreporter.com.
Nevertheless, what is lesser-known is that throughout the centuries, they founded scores of cities across the Mediterranean which not only exist today, but thrive and play a crucial role in their region’s affairs.
One of these cities is the large port city of Marseille, in the south of France.
Currently the second-largest city in France and definitely among the oldest in Europe, Marseille can trace its origins back to 600 BC, when the first Greeks arrived in the area and founded a trading colony.
This was at a time when many Phocaeans left their homeland in today’s Turkey (then Greek-speaking Asia Minor), and arrived at the northern shores of the Western Mediterranean.
They discovered a locale that could easily accommodate a large port and in a few years’ time, a new Greek colony had been established. Its name was ”ΜΑΣΣΑΛΙΑ” (”Massalia”).
Read the full story at greekreporter.com
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