Cyrene

City in Cyrenaica, on the North African coast (now Libya). The city was situated about 13 km/8 mi from the coast on a plateau 550 m/1,800 ft above sea level. It was founded about 630 BC by colonists from the Greek island Thera (modern Santorini), achieved great prosperity, and became the chief city of the Roman province Cyrenaica. Its properity lasted until a Jewish revolt AD 115-16. In the 4th century it was deserted. Extensive ruins have been excavated.

Ruins at the site include the temple of Apollo founded by Battus I, the king of Cyrene, and rebuilt by the Roman emperor Augustus, with a huge open-air altar (23 m/75 ft long) in front; the temple of Artemis (early 6th century BC); Roman baths; and much fine sculpture. The site also includes cemeteries with numerous tiers of sepulchres in the northern supports of the plateau. Cyrene was the birthplace of the poet Callimachus, and the philosopher Aristippus. It also had a medical school.