Here at the Ilot urbain grec du Collège du Vieux-Port, whispers of ancient banquets echo through time. This site holds secrets from Marseille’s founding. It dates back to the 6th and 5th centuries BC.
The Ilot urbain grec du Collège du Vieux-Port reveals an exceptionally well-preserved occupation. Archaeological digs, before college expansions, unearthed this find. The ancient urban block is surrounded by streets. This urban layout started around 580 BC. From 580 to 550 BC, buildings of adobe brick on stone bases occupied the entire block. Some walls still stand 1.5 meters high. Painted coatings remain on them.
The northern part of the block saw changes. Around the 6th century BC, buildings were demolished. A massive construction of large white limestone blocks replaced them. The southern part of the block features two buildings. They are separated by a small paved passage.
Artifacts discovered suggest a public or cult building. The quality of construction and archaeological finds supports this. Banquet tableware was a common find. This indicates the site’s purpose. Imagine the elite of early Marseille gathering here. They enjoyed lavish banquets in this very spot. Marseille displayed a level of luxury unknown until then.
Excavations uncovered a monumental rectangular building. Its size suggests it was dedicated to banquets. Earth or lime coatings adorned the walls and floors. Colorful designs decorated walls and ceilings. These included Egyptian blue and red stripes. There were also egg patterns and flat tiles. These tiles came from Greater Greece and Etruria.
Traces of a Roman theater also appeared here. These foundations measure 1.8 meters wide. They suggest an extension of the stands. The theater’s diameter may have reached 115 meters. This extension dates to the reign of Emperor Augustus.
The Ilot urbain grec du Collège du Vieux-Port has faced controversy. In 2014, it was reported that pink limestone blocks disappeared. These blocks once formed the theater’s tiers. During excavation, the blocks were stored in the college courtyard. There was a plan to reuse them as benches. This plan never materialized. The college director said the stones were more of a nuisance. The general council removed them. The council claimed they were discarded. They said an architect deemed them archaeologically uninteresting. This sparked outrage.
Today, the Ilot urbain grec du Collège du Vieux-Port stands as a classified historical monument. It serves as a window into Marseille’s distant past. It reminds us of the city’s Greek origins. Imagine the bustling streets. Visualize the grand banquets. Reflect on the layers of history beneath our feet here.