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Strategic Geography Made Massalia Thrive
- Massalia sat on a fortified promontory with a bay and ramparts, giving strong defensive and maritime advantages.
- Its proximity to the Rhone made it a lucrative trade hub connecting inland Gaul to the Mediterranean.
Foundation Likely Gradual Trade Settlement
- Archaeology shows Greek trade contacts in the region before the traditional 600 BC foundation date.
- Massalia likely grew from a slow coalescence of traders rather than a single sudden colonizing expedition.
Romantic Foundation Myth Of Protis And Nanus
- Ancient legend claims a local chieftain Nanus gave land to the Greek founder Protis after his daughter picked Protis as husband.
- The romantic foundation tale explains the city's origin but likely mixes invention with some real names.