CYRENE (city in Cyrenaica)
Ancient Greek and Roman city near present-day Shahhat, Libya
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Cyrenaica
- People of myth here
- Arcesilaus
- Where
- 32.82° N, 21.85° E
The city was established by settlers from the island of Thera. Strabo 17.3.21 The region produces high-quality agricultural crops. Strabo 17.3.21 Cyrene is located in the region near Egypt and the Syrtes. Diodorus 3.49
Described in the sources
Callimachus is identified as the poet associated with the city of Cyrene. Athenaeus 15.8 +1 The Lotophagi people are said to extend their territory up to the regions above Cyrene. Strabo 17.3.8 +1 The city of Cyrene is located in Libya, in the highest part of the region inhabited by nomads. Herodotus 4.156.3 +1 Cyrene is located in an area near the territory of the Libyans, inhabited by four distinct tribes. Diodorus 3.49 +1 Pheretime governed the city and managed her son's affairs while he was absent, and later sought military aid to return to the city with him. Herodotus 4.162.3 +1 Cyrene has a promontory named Phycus. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.20 ¶2 Its harbor faces the western cape of Crete. Strabo 17.3.21 Thera is described as the metropolis of Cyrene. Strabo 1.3.16 Cyrene is located north of the parallel of Syene. Strabo 2.5.36 The city is located eleven miles away from the sea. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.5 ¶1
Gods and worship
The local soil is especially suitable for raising horses. Strabo 17.3.21 Women in this city honor the Egyptian goddess Isis with fasts and festivals. Herodotus 4.186.2
Stories and history
Barbarians attempted to destroy the silphium roots near Cyrene. Strabo 17.3.21 +1 The inhabitants of Cyrene rebelled against Ptolemy at the urging of Magas, who captured the city during the fifth year of the rebellion. Pausanias 1.6.8 +1 Apries dispatched a large military force to attack the city, but the Egyptian army suffered a significant defeat at Irasa and the Thestes spring. Herodotus 2.161.4 +1 Delegates from Cyrene erected statues of dolphins on pedestals near the temple of Ammon, along with an inscription to prove the oracle was once on the sea-shore. Strabo 1.3.15 +1 Battus is reported to have founded the city. Strabo 17.3.21 Amasis decided to take a wife from the city of Cyrene. Herodotus 2.181.1 Women from Barca in this city also refuse to eat swine. Herodotus 4.186.2 Amasis also gave the city a painted portrait of himself. Herodotus 2.182.1 The city received a golden statue of Athena from Amasis. Herodotus 2.182.1 The people of Cyrene became friends and allies of Amasis. Herodotus 2.181.1