In 599 B.C., the Phocaeans from Greece founded Massilia (present-day Marseille) and established other coastal mooring sites in the area. Pliny the Elder wrote that the Athenopolis (the ancient name of Saint-Tropez) belonged to the Massilians. In 31 B.C., the Romans invaded the region. Their citizens built many opulent villas in the area, including one known as the "Villa des Platanes" (Villa of the Plane Trees). The first name given to the village was Heraclea-Caccaliera, and the mouth of its gulf was named the Issambres.