Who founded Marseille as Massalia around 600 BCE?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Marseille, the oldest of the large French cities, was founded as Massalia around 600 BCE by Greek mariners from Phocaea in Asia Minor. While these Greek settlers are credited with the city's formal establishment, archaeological evidence suggests that Phoenicians may have settled in the area even earlier.1