Glanum — Uncover the Buried Secret

Your journey in Glanum begins in front of the Triumphal Arch, a historical monument built around 20 BC under Emperor Augustus. This triumphal entrance, approximately 9 meters high, is unique in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur for its Hellenized Roman style. It was discovered intact, contrasting with the buried ruins of the rest of Glanum. Although it was sacked in 270 AD by the Germans, it remained visible, defying time, and offers you a first enigma about the origins and decline of this ancient city.

Right next door, the Mausoleum of the Julii, erected around 30 BC, stands 17.7 meters high. This funerary monument, probably the tomb of an influential Roman family, is remarkably preserved, with its Hellenistic sculptures of winged Victories. The Latin inscription dedicating it to members of the gens Julia raises the question of its connection to Julius Caesar, a historical debate that still engages specialists. It is the only one of the 'Two Antiques' to have served as a tomb in the Middle Ages, a testament to its importance throughout the ages in Glanum.

Continue your visit to Glanum towards the Sacred Spring, exploited from the 6th century BC by the Salyens, a Celto-Ligurian people. This perennial place of worship was dedicated to the nymph Glanis, goddess of health, and was the cultic foundation of the city, closely linked to the temple of Valetudo. In 270 AD, after Glanum was abandoned, the spring was buried under 8 meters of alluvium, thus preserving its mystery and history, which you will have to unravel to understand the spirituality of the ancient inhabitants of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Your exploration of the national archaeological site then leads you to the Hellenistic Agora, built in the 2nd century BC by the Greeks and Salyens. This public square, 40 x 30 meters, with its remains of porticoes and statue bases, was the pre-Roman commercial and political heart of Glanum. Excavations, which began in 1921, revealed a Hellenistic influence unique in Gaul, illustrating the city's cultural richness. The Hellenistic quarter, like the rest of Glanum, was abandoned after the sack of 270 AD, a key event in the history of Roman Provence.

Finally, the Roman Baths and the Roman Forum of Glanum immerse you in daily Roman life. The public baths from the 1st century AD, fed by the sacred spring, and the Forum, an administrative and commercial center measuring 100 x 50 meters, testify to the city's prosperity until the Germanic invasion of 270. The Forum, covered by a Provençal farm until 1921 and buried under 8 meters of alluvium, was rediscovered during the road diversion. This stroll through the monuments of Glanum, an exceptional Gallo-Roman heritage, offers you a complete vision of the evolution of a city, from its Salyen origins to its Roman heyday, before its burial.