Marseilles (mär-slz´) is the largest port of France, and is the second city in size. It has a population of over a half million; that is, it is about the size of Cleveland or Baltimore. It is situated on the Gulf of the Lion, a part of the Mediterranean (md -tr-´ n-n) Sea. It is an ancient city, its history going back to 600 B. C. It was founded by the Greeks, and became a center of Greek learning in western Europe. It was captured by the Romans under Julius Caesar in 49 B. C. During the French Revolution, the soldiers of Marseilles when going into battle sang a song. This song the French named the "Marseillaise." You probably can sing it. Here is shown the shipping on the docks of the new harbor. This harbor is a large one and is protected from storms by a breakwater 2 miles long. This breakwater cost $10,000,000. All kinds of goods are brought in and sent out. Coal, grains, wool, silk, sugar, coffee, and sheep from Algiers are the chief products handled. Its total yearly commerce amounts to $731,000,000. This makes Marseilles the 6th most important port in the world. The cathedral is named the Major. It is built of white and green stone, and is fairly new. It is 460 feet long. When its decorations are finished it will have cost about $4,000,000. Marseilles is one of the three great ports on the Mediterranean. Genoa (jn´ -å), in Italy, and Trieste (tr-s´ t), in Austria are its rivals. The building of the Suez Canal caused the trade of Marseilles to increase greatly. Many large steamship lines have offices here. Trace a cargo from Marseilles to Liverpool; to Bombay. Keystone ID: 6102 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.