Published on September 10, 2021, by Marion Couillaud

Are you familiar with the beach of the Prophet? Located on the Corniche, this small sandy beach protected by a stone dike, with a volleyball court and lively evening events. We have all wondered why it has such an unusual name for a beach. Finally, we will reveal the meaning behind this spiritually-inspired name for a beach.

"Oh, let's go for a swim at the Prophet's?" This phrase may sound strange to non-Marseillais, but it's familiar to locals. The beach of the Prophet, or rather the cove of the Prophet, is well-known among the people of Marseille. However, few of us know the origin of this name, which seems so distant from what was once just a small fishing port. Marseille Tourism will explain why the cove of the Prophet is called that way.

Did you know? The beach of the Prophet is one of the few "real" sandy beaches in Marseille. The construction of the dike dates back to 1894 and aimed to prevent the accumulation of algae, which emitted a foul odor when decomposing. These algae are still present to this day.

HYPOTHESIS #1: THE NAME OF A SHIP

According to a once authoritative explanation, the name of the cove of the Prophet would come from a boat…! At that time, the extension of the port to La Joliette was still under construction, and the Old Port was completely saturated. As a result, many boats were forced to unload their goods in more distant locations such as L'Estaque, the Frioul Islands, or even Endoume. In Roucas Blanc, the small bay was often occupied by a small three-masted sail and steamship built in Sète in 1852. Its name: "Le Prophète". This cargo ship transported goods between Marseille, Morocco, and Algeria. From 1853 to 1856, the ship practically made this cove its home, which then housed a small port. The place, located far away, was reportedly convenient because the owner devoted part of his activity to delivering weapons to Morocco. Imagine this 42-meter ship, with its sails and smoking chimneys, in this little corner of Roucas Blanc. The inhabitants would have associated this place as "over there at the Prophet", and from there, it entered common language. The ship is said to have shipwrecked a few years later in the nearby Var region.

HYPOTHESIS #2: THE NAME OF A SUCCESSFUL LYRIC SINGER

Another hypothesis, raised by David Coquille from the newspaper La Marseillaise, suggests that it is a tribute to a famous artist, Jean-Vittal Jammes, known as Ismaël, who resided in the neighborhood. From 1854 to 1860, he stayed at the Grand Théâtre de Marseille, which is now the opera house. It was in Marseille where he established his reputation as an artist before achieving recognition in Paris. He was a true star of the time and was regularly mentioned in major newspapers between 1860 and 1880. There is indeed a street called Traverse Ismaël in the 7th arrondissement not far from the Prophet. And in this small alley, you can find Villa Ismaël, which is said to have belonged to the baritone and even has harps on its facade.