Tyche's Favourites/Massalia

A sketch of what Massalia might have looked like, based on the archaeological findings

Greeks in Gallia

Traders

Rhodians and Rhodanosia/Theline

Massalia's Early History

Founding

Colonies and relationship with Phokaia

Conflicts with Carthaginians/Etruscans

Massalia in 300BC

Government

Initially, the Massilian constitution was a narrow aristocratic regime. However, an attempt was soon made to reduce the power of the great families by insisting that, if a man belong to the Council his son could not, and if an elder brother belonged to the Council his younger brother could not be a member. Such specifics probably lapsed, but the tendency led to the evolution of the aristocratic system to a more plutocratic oligarchic system. This government is headed by the Council of Six Hundred. To be a member councilors has to be able to prove they were of citizen decent for at least three generations or, alternatively, has to possess children. The list is revised from time to time. The Council elects an executive council of fifteen— oi timoukoi—from the main body. The timouchoi are led by three presidents. An unusual feature of the Massilian government is that a criminal condemned to death is maintained at public expense for one year, after which the criminal is executed as a pharmakos or purification of the city.

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