(the modern Marseille), a Greek town of Gallia Narbonensis, on the S. coast, was situated on a rocky peninsula E. of the mouth of the Rhone. It was founded by a colony of Phocceans, from the Ionian confederation in Asia Minor, upon a site granted to them by Nannus, king of a Ligurian tribe. The settlers were commanded by Simos and Proitis, according to Justin, or by Euxenus, the father of Proitis, according to Aristotle. The date of the settlement is uncertain. Encompassed on all sides by lawless barbarians, the Massaliots were often assailed both by stratagem and by open violence. Yet they not only defended themselves with success, but gradually extended their territory, and in no long time had planted along the coast several colonies, such as Antipolis (Antibes), Nicaea (Nice), Agathia (Agde), and Emporiae (Ampurias). The fertility of their soil forced them to become a commercial people, and as their well-sheltered town formed a commodious port for vessels, they speedily acquired both wealth and influence. Accordingly, on the outbreak of the second Punic war in 218 B.C., Massilia was of sufficient importance to be received into the alliance of Rome. It was a faithful and useful ally to Caesar during all his Gallic campaigns. Adopting, however, the cause of Pompey at the commencement of the civil war, the town was besieged by Caesar; and after a long and stubborn resistance it was compelled to capitulate, and deliver up all its ships, military equipments, and public money. From this period Massilia, though it retained its independence, began gradually to decline. The growing importance of the Roman colony, Narbo Martius (Narbonne), probably affected its commercial prosperity. It however acquired a new importance as the school where the neighbouring Galli studied rhetoric and philosophy; insomuch, that in the reign of Augustus and Tiberius it came to be considered the Athens of the West, and among many other Roman youths, Agricola, the conqueror of Britain, was educated there. After the time of Caesar the history of Massilia comprises no event of interest.

The Massaliots were noted for their simplicity, temperance, and virtue. Their government was aristocratic, and consisted of 600 dignitaries called Timuchi. A committee of fifteen chosen from these held the administration Massillon, and delegated the executive power to three of their own number.