“Les descendants des Phocéens à Homère” The words etched into the pedestal whisper a story. Right here before you stands the Colonne d’Homère bust in Marseille. This isn’t just a statue. It’s a testament to Marseille’s rich history and its connection to ancient Greece.
The bust itself is a masterpiece crafted by Etienne Dantoine. He was a remarkable sculptor who also created the monumental fountain of the Three Graces in Montpellier. Dantoine’s Homer is an interpretation of the ancient poet. It stands atop a column of granite. The granite came from the crypts of Saint-Victor Abbey. The column’s Ionic capital adds elegance to this historical piece.
This wasn’t always just a column and bust. Originally part of a fountain it was erected in 1803. It stood at the corner of Rue d’Aubagne and Rue Moustier. The fountain was commissioned by Prefect Charles Delacroix. He wanted to honor Homer. He wanted to connect Marseille to its Phocaean roots. The area included a pre-existing washhouse. Ironically a nearby resident complained in 1858. He described the area as charming yet plagued by the washhouse. He detailed the unpleasant sounds and disputes it created.
The fountain sadly dried up. It lost its washhouse in 1898. It lost its round basin in 1920. Today the washhouse and basin are gone. Only the column and bust remain. The inscription celebrating the consuls and the prefect was removed in 1814.
The Colonne d’Homère has endured. It survived the collapse of buildings on Rue d’Aubagne in 2018. Now it stands as a silent guardian. A memorial to the victims of that tragedy. An artist even dressed it as Homer Simpson in 2013. This shows the bust’s evolving role in the city’s cultural landscape.
The Colonne d’Homère isn’t just a monument to a poet. It embodies Marseille’s resilience. Its layers of history are interwoven with the city’s identity. It’s a powerful reminder that even in the face of loss and change history endures. It continues to tell its story. A story of art and tragedy. A story of the city’s deep connection to its past. A story that this remarkable bust continues to silently share.