Page 24 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

22  INTRODUCING P ARIS

Gallo-Roman Paris

Paris would not have existed without the Seine. The river
provided early peoples with the means to exploit the land,
forests, marshes and islands. Excavations have unearthed
canoes dating back to 4500 BC, well before a Celtic tribe,
known as the Parisii, settled there in the 3rd century BC, in an
area known as Lutetia. From 59 BC, the Romans undertook the
conquest of Gaul (France). Seven years later, Lutetia was sacked
by the Romans. They fortified and rebuilt it, especially the main Extent of the City
island (the Ile de la Cité) and the Left Bank of the Seine. 200 BC Today

Bronze-Age Harness
Everyday objects like harnesses
continued to be made of bronze
well into the Iron Age, which
began in Gaul around 900 BC.

Baths

Theatre

Forum
Fired-Clay Vase
Pale ceramics with
coloured decoration
were common in Gaul.
Iron Daggers Present-day
From the 2nd century BC, Rue Soufflot
short swords of iron replaced
long swords and were
sometimes decorated with
human and animal shapes.
Glass Beads
Iron-Age glass beads and
bracelets have been found Present-day Rue
on the Ile de la Cité. St-Jacques

Helmet worn
4500 BC by Gaulish
Early boatmen operate from warriors
the banks of the Seine
4500 400 BC 300 BC 200 BC 100 BC
300 BC 52 BC
Parisii tribe settle on Labienus, Caesar’s
the Ile de la Cité lieutenant, defeats the
Gauls. Romans rebuild the
Parisii gold coin minted Ile de la Cité, and create a
on the Ile de la Cité new town on the Left Bank

022-023_EW_Paris.indd 22 25/04/16 4:16 pm