Massalia

[Anastasios Helios]

Can anyone give me any links, book suggestions, anything about the ancient history of Massalia? I'm going to France in January and i'm planning to visit Marseilles. I'm curious about the culture, foreign relations, military, and monuments that Massalia once boasted of...

[keravnos]

Well, where to start... Massalia is one of the iceberg of Hellenic poleis. We know so little of it as it was of the furthest cities. Yet its role is so big. A founder of at least 10 other cities one of which was Kallipolis (presently known as Barcelona from the name given to it by the soldiers of Hannibal Barca when he conquered it), founded approximately at the same time as Roma, it held the celtic coast against all assaults by the Qarthadastim. Later on, a faithful Roman ally, with its heavy horsemen contributing to Hannibal's defeat. A separate state until the time it picked Pompey over Julius caesar, which led to its absorption to the Empire. It still remained hellenic up until the 200's or 300's (CE) when the overwhelming Latinization of everything around it took hold over the city as well.

[Anastasios Helios]

Sweet...in a recent homework assignment I wrote a brief history of the city. :D My teacher loved it...thanks for the inspiration EB!

[General Appo]

I´ve always loved the ancient history of Massalia, and read anything I can find on it. Unfortunately most I´ve learned about Massalia I´ve read in books aobut only connected subjects, such as early Roman history or the Gallic tribes, not about Massalia in the first place.

[Anastasios Helios]

What was the inspiration for the Massalian Hoplites on the game?