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Labeca Laboratory for the Study of the Ancient City

Alalia

France (Corsica)

Alalia was one of the Phocaean colonies founded when the inhabitants of Phocaea left their homeland because of their war with the Persians. Its foundation date has been set at around 560 BC. Around the middle of the 6th century BC the territory covered an area of 200 km² and was probably divided into plots. In 540, after a naval battle with the Carthaginians, the city was almost entirely abandoned and ceased to be a polis, becoming an Etruscan city.

Forms of occupation of the ásty

Walls and position of the gates

Remains of a wall known as the South Rampart have been identified in the southern part of the ancient city of Aleria. The impressive fortification system consisted of a single-faced wall made of huge irregular rocks extending for more than 20 metres. The dating was established on the basis of the stratigraphy of East Greek and Attic black-figure pottery finds.

Bibliography (1)
  • Frederiksen, R.; Greek City Walls of the Archaic Period, 900-480 BC (Oxford Monographs on Classical Archaeology)