In the 600 BC, among the 12 Ionian cities in Western Anatolia, the Aegean, Symrna and Phokaia (today’s Foça) were the most significant ones. Of these two cities, Phokaia had set up many colonies on the Mediterranean. Not only had they set up those colonies, but they did also carry all their knowledge and culture to the Mediterranean – in other words to today’s Europe. The most prominent of those colonies is Marseille. The main objective of the project is to once again explain and document the influence of the Aegean on the historical relations in the Mediterranean as well as the developments thereat until today. On the brass plaque that is located in Marseille Port, it writes, “This city was set up in 600 BC by the Phokaians who had come from Anatolia.” This inscription is of great significance as the starting point of this Project.

Under this İzmir – Foça – Marseille Project for Journey into History, the Bireme ship, which has been rebuilt according to the archeological data, will set her sails from the shores of Foça and head for Marseille, to once again make this historical journey. We will, on our way stop at the places that are currently named as Velia, Alalia, Nice, Antibes, the places where the Phokaians had back in 600 BC set up their colonies.

The scientific consultant of the project is Prof. Dr. Ömer Özyigit, the Chief of the Phokaia Excavations. İzmir Branch of the Chamber of Turkish Naval Architects and Marine Engineers did the drawings of the project ship and the Turkish Lloyd Foundation did the survey.

360 Degree Historical Researches Association does, in this project, cooperate with İzmir French Cultural Center under the name of “Mare Nostrum”.

The project which continues under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has, in the “Turkey Year 2009”, been nominated by the French as the most outstanding project and was granted the title of “Label”.

The journey will start in the month of june of the year 2009, with a ceremony that would be held in Foça. We will again make this historical journey to Marseille and on our way, we will stop at the ports where Phokaians had set up their Aegean and Mediterranean colonies, which are currently named as Velia, Aleria, Nice and Antibes.