FROM ANCIENT MASSALIA, EMBARK ON A JOURNEY WITH THE HEROES AND GODS OF ANCIENT GREECE

Massalia, the legendary city founded by Greek sailors, was for centuries the beacon of Hellenic culture in the Mediterranean. Naturally, a multitude of archaeological artifacts from this period have been found there. In the garden of the vestiges, just steps from the ancient Greek walls, an exceptional collection of objects from Ancient Greece is on display, sourced from the collections of the National Library of France (BNF) as well as Marseille collections. Terracotta vases found in Greece, Italy, or Marseille testify to the richness and spread of Greek culture. Interest in this period of history has been evident since at least the 18th century. Indeed, from that time, Greek vases have held a central place for collectors and Marseille museums. The exhibition is divided into three parts, tracing the journey from Phocaean Massalia to all the mythical stops in the Mediterranean basin.

CERAMIC VASES, SYMBOLS OF JOURNEYS AND VEHICLES OF GREEK CULTURE

These vases that traveled the Mediterranean carried Greek culture, and through the scenes depicted on these objects, we are transported back into this fascinating world of gods and heroes with grandiose and tragic destinies. It's an opportunity to immerse oneself in the footsteps of these legendary heroes, such as Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece aboard his magnificent ship the Argo, or Theseus, Odysseus, Heracles, as well as the gods Poseidon, Athena, and Hermes. It's a fantastic and historical journey, blending myth and archaeological reality, allowing us to delve into the roots of our city.

Like the name of the exhibition, "Terre" (Earth), the exclamation associated with maritime exploration, ceramics invite us to travel. It's a double journey, both through time and across all the shores of the Mediterranean. With Marseille at the center, serving as both the starting point and the destination, featuring the vase that is said to have sealed the union between the Greek sailor Protis and the local Gyptis.

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