The Classical Foundation

Provence bore the name Provincia Romana—the Province—before the rest of Gaul even knew Roman rule. Greeks from Phocaea founded Massalia (Marseille) six centuries before Christ, bringing their gods and heroes to mingle with Ligurian and Celtic deities. This created a unique mythological substrate where Hercules might drink with local river gods and Greek nymphs could fall in love with Gallic warriors.

The Journey of Hercules

Provençal mythology claims Hercules as nearly a native son. Returning from his tenth labor (stealing the cattle of Geryon), he passed through Provence and left his mark everywhere. Near Arles, he fought the Ligurian army. When his arrows ran out, Zeus sent a rain of stones—creating the Crau, the strange stony plain that still puzzles geologists.

But local traditions elaborate far beyond classical sources. In Provençal telling, Hercules didn't merely pass through—he lingered, loved, and left demigod descendants who founded noble houses. The mistral itself supposedly began as his sigh of longing when he finally had to leave for Greece.

At the Pont du Gard, old stories claim Hercules built the first bridge in a single night to impress a water nymph. The Romans merely repaired and improved his work. Engineers scoff, but locals note that the foundation stones are far older and more massive than Roman construction typically required.

Maritime Deities

The Mediterranean brought its own pantheon. While Atlantic coasts fear their seas, Provence's relationship with the Mediterranean blends desire with respect. The goddess Leucothea, protector of sailors, had particular reverence here. Provençal sailors wouldn't launch boats without tossing white flowers—her favorites—into the waves.

More uniquely Provençal were the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the Holy Marys of the Sea. Christian tradition says Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome, Mary Jacobe, and their servant Sarah landed here after fleeing Palestine. But they arrived at a place already sacred to sea goddesses, and the synthesis created something new: protective female figures who were simultaneously Christian saints, Romanized goddesses, and something older still.