Lacydon

Lacydon is the historic harbour of Massalia, the Greek colony that became the city of Marseille. Located at the site of the modern Old Port in southern France, Lacydon served as the principal harbour and trading hub for the Phocaeans from roughly the 6th century BCE onward. Through Lacydon, Massalia established and maintained links with inland Gaul, Iberia, North Africa, and the wider western Mediterranean, contributing to the city’s growth, wealth, and cultural exchange.

Over time, Roman and later medieval developments modified the coastline and harbour structures, yet the area remained central to Marseille’s maritime activity. The physical remains of Lacydon are partly preserved in the archaeology around the Old Port, where finds such as ancient quay segments, storage facilities, and cargo wares illustrate the scale and organization of the early port.

The term Lacydon is used in Greek and Latin sources to designate the harbour of Massalia and is retained in modern scholarship as a reference point for Marseille’s ancient urban layout. It remains a focal point in local history and tourism as a symbol of the city’s Greek origins and its long-standing connection to the sea.