Cyrene, Libya
Cyrene, believed to have been founded 631 B.C.E., by people from Thera an island of the Aegean,
Their first king and leader was Battus, for eight generations ruled over Cyrene,the dynasty founder's
were Battus and Arcesilaus dynasties. Among their
accomplishments,Cyrene was able to become prosperous
due to the Alpollonia Port, and towns of Euhesperiedes, Barce and Berenice. This continued to
440 B.C.E.
This ancient Greek city or colony (in present-day Libya) being the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region and gave eastern Libya the classical name 'Cyrenaica' that it has retained to present day. It lies in a lush valley in the Jebel Akhdar uplands. It was named after a spring, Kyre, which the Greeks consecrated to Apollo.
Cyrene was founded as a colony of the Greeks of Thera, traditionally led by Aristotle (later called Battus) of Thera, about 630 B.C.E., ten miles from its port, Apollonia (Marsa Sousa). Details concerning the founding of the city are contained in Book IV of the Histories of Herodotus. It promptly became the chief town of the ancient Libyan region between Egypt and Carthage (Cyrenaica), kept up commercial relations with all the Greek cities, and reached the height of its prosperity under its own kings in the 5th century B.C.E. Soon after 460 B.C.E. it became a republic; after the death of Alexander the Great (323 B.C.E.) it passed to the Ptolemies and fell into decay.
Cyrenaica became part of the empire controlled by the Ptolemaic dynasty from Alexandria in Egypt and later passed to the Roman empire. Cyrene was the birthplace of Eratosthenes and there are a number of philosophers associated with the city including Callimachus, Carneades, Aristippus and Arete, and Synesius, bishop of Ptolemais in the 4th century CE.
The inhabitants of Cyrene at the time of Sulla (c. 85 B.C.E.) were divided into four classes: citizens, farmers, resident aliens, and Jews, who formed a restless minority. Lucullus was sent to Cyrene by Sulla to quell disturbances in which the Jews were taking a prominent part. The ruler of the town, Apion bequeathed it to the Romans, but it kept its self-government. In 74 B.C.E. Cyrene was created a Roman province; but, whereas under the Ptolemies the Jewish inhabitants had enjoyed equal rights, they now considered themselves oppressed by the autonomous Greek population. From the time of 323B.C.E., under Ptolemaic Egypt,Cyrene became a center of great intellectual magnet, able to give to the world incredible scholars of the age of the classic times, creating a medical school. The well spring of this city, produced and attracted Eraosthenes, geographer of the time, Aristippus, the philosopher and the founder of Cyrenaics. In 67 B.C.E., Romans came to rule and united with Crete, Cyrene became the capitol. Prosperity reigned for two centuries with Roman rule, but this came to an abrupt halt due to resentment of Cyrenian Jews revolt, 115 C.E.
Cultural conflicts were exacerbated by the resurgence of Jewish nationalism and resentment of Hellenistic culture with which many Jews had accommodated. Tensions came to a head in the insurrection of the Jews of Cyrene under Vespasian (AD 73) and especially Trajan (AD 117). This revolt was quelled by Marcius Turbo, but not before about 200,000 Romans and Greeks had been killed (Dio Cassius, lxviii. 32). By this outbreak Libya was depopulated to such an extent that a few years later new colonies had to be established there, according to Eusebius.
Due to revolt and decline this great city no longer existed after the Arab conquest of 642 C.E.
Historic finds
Shahhat in al-Jabal al-Akhdar,the modern village eight miles southwest of Marsa Susah, is the cite of ancient historic Cyrene. This has been the excavation activity that has found great treasures, the Temple of Zeus,from the 6th century B.C.E. The statue of Apollo considered to be colossal. The sanctuary and fountain of Apollo were considered to be the site of basilica and forum of Alexandria, filled with mosaics, an historic house of the 2nd- century on the Kaisareion. These three main points and areas are considered to be a great find.
Cyrene's chief local export through much of its early history — the medicinal herb silphium — was pictured on most Cyrenian coins, until it was harvested to extinction. Though commercial competition from Carthage and Alexandria reduced its trade, Cyrene, with its port of Apollonia (Marsa Susa), remained an important urban center until the earthquake of 365. Ammianus Marcellinus described it in the 4th century as a deserted city, and Synesius, a native of Cyrene, described it in the following century as a vast ruin at the mercy of the nomads.
The names of six christian bishops are known: according to Byzantine legend the first was St. Lucius (Acts 13:1); St. Theodorus suffered martyrdom under Diocletian; about 370 Philo dared to consecrate by himself a bishop for Hydra, and was succeeded by his own nephew, Philo; Rufus sided with Dioscorus at the so-called Robber Synod (Latrocinium) of Ephesus in 449; Leontius lived about 600.
Cyrene is now an archeological site near the village of Shahat. One of its more significant features is the Temple of Apollo which was originally constructed as early as 7th century B.C.E. Other ancient structures include a Temple to Demeter and a partially unexcavated Temple to Zeus (the latter was intentionally damaged under orders of Moammar Al Qadhafi in the summer of 1978). There is a large necropolis approximately 10 km between Cyrene and its ancient port of Apollonia.
Simon of Cyrene
Cyrene is also mentioned in the New Testament: One Simon of Cyrene carried the cross of Christ (Mark 15:21 and parallels). "And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross."
See also Acts 2:10, 6:9; 11:20; 13:1.
New discoveries
In 2005, Italian archaeologists from the University of Urbino discovered 76 intact Roman statues at Cyrene from the 2nd century AD. The statues remained undiscovered for so long because, according to archaeologist Mario Luni, “during the earthquake of 375 C.E., a supporting wall of the temple fell on its side, burying all the statues. They remained hidden under stone, rubble and earth for 1,600 years. The other walls sheltered the statues, so we were able to recover all the pieces, even works that had been broken." [1]
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
http://www.library.eb.com/eb/article-9028426
Cyrene. (2006). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 4, 2006, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition: http://www.library.eb.com/eb/article-9028426
"Eratosthenes Of Cyrene." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition. 4 Dec. 2006 <http://www.library.eb.com/eb/article-9032863>.
"Aristippus." Encyclopedia Britannica,2006.
Encyclopedia Britannica Online
Library Edition. 6 Dec.2006
http://www.library.eb.com/eb/article-9009444
External links
- Livius, Cyrene and the Cyrenaica by Jona Lendering
See also
- Cyrenaica
- Cyrenaics
- List of Kings of Cyrene
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.
