 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
||
Nice - Ancient Civilizations
The arrival of the Greeks :
During the 5th century BC, Greek settlers, sent from the active city of Marseille (founded by the Greeks from Phocaea), established themselves in Antibes, Monaco and Nice. They mixed with the local population and set up commercial counters particularly in Nikaïa (Nice), improved defenses and constructions and brought with them a new culture. Nice began its existence towards the middle of the 5th century. this fact is significant : few cities in France can boast 25 centuries of existence. Nikaïa in Greek, which commemorates a Greek victory over a local Etruscan or Ligurian tribe, is at the origin of the image of Nice the victorious.
During the 5th century BC, Greek settlers, sent from the active city of Marseille (founded by the Greeks from Phocaea), established themselves in Antibes, Monaco and Nice. They mixed with the local population and set up commercial counters particularly in Nikaïa (Nice), improved defenses and constructions and brought with them a new culture. Nice began its existence towards the middle of the 5th century. this fact is significant : few cities in France can boast 25 centuries of existence. Nikaïa in Greek, which commemorates a Greek victory over a local Etruscan or Ligurian tribe, is at the origin of the image of Nice the victorious.
 |
The Roman Conquest : Between 58 and 51, Caesar conquered Gaul. The pole of romanisation was Cimiez, a stategic place destined to control the Roman expansion towards the west. As from the 2nd century while Nice as a Phocaean counter represented a strategic antennae for Marseille, Rome reinforced its presence in Provence; in Nice, the Romans built an entire city on the hill of Cimiez (Cemenelum) which became the capital of the niçois colony – 3 thermal baths and numerous boutiques bear testimony to this period. |
The city was in fact a military enclave intended to supervise and control this accident-prone and wild country, " l’impudente Massaliote ".
The disorganisation of the empire, the barbarian invasions and the absence of fortifications led to a preference for the steep hills of the Greek Nice, much easier to defend. In the 6th century, Cemenelum was abandonned having existed only for the duration of the empire itself, at the fall of the empire it weakened and became a mere neighbourhood of the city of Nice.
From the beginning of 4th century, the Nice counter christianised by the Greeks, became a diocese in 314. Cemenelum was to have a bishop in the 5th century. The religious organisation of the region culminated in the fusion of the two sieges before the end of the 5th century.
Musée archéologique de Cimiez :
160, avenue des Arènes,
Founded by Octave Auguste, Caesar's successor, in 14 BC, Cemenelum was the capital of the " Alpes-Maritimae " province from 1st to 5th century. The Arena, amphitheatre, lothermal baths (3rd century AD), the pathed streets and a paleo-christian installation (5th century AD) can be visited.
The Museum displays collections from the metal age (1100 BC.)to the Middle Ages : ceramics, glass, coins, jewellery, sculptures, tools…
Tel : +33 (0)493 81 59 57
Free entrance
The disorganisation of the empire, the barbarian invasions and the absence of fortifications led to a preference for the steep hills of the Greek Nice, much easier to defend. In the 6th century, Cemenelum was abandonned having existed only for the duration of the empire itself, at the fall of the empire it weakened and became a mere neighbourhood of the city of Nice.
From the beginning of 4th century, the Nice counter christianised by the Greeks, became a diocese in 314. Cemenelum was to have a bishop in the 5th century. The religious organisation of the region culminated in the fusion of the two sieges before the end of the 5th century.
Musée archéologique de Cimiez :
160, avenue des Arènes,
Founded by Octave Auguste, Caesar's successor, in 14 BC, Cemenelum was the capital of the " Alpes-Maritimae " province from 1st to 5th century. The Arena, amphitheatre, lothermal baths (3rd century AD), the pathed streets and a paleo-christian installation (5th century AD) can be visited.
The Museum displays collections from the metal age (1100 BC.)to the Middle Ages : ceramics, glass, coins, jewellery, sculptures, tools…
Tel : +33 (0)493 81 59 57
Free entrance
 |
||