Cyrene (modern-day Shahhat, Libya) was a vital cultural center and port of trade in North Africa founded in 631 BCE by Greek colonists from the island of Thera. The city is best known as the birthplace of the philosopher Aristippus of Cyrene, the poet/scholar Callimachus, and the polymath Eratosthenes, as well as from references in the Bible.
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Definition
Timeline
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631 BCE - 440 BCEDuration of the Battiad Dynasty of Cyrene.
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631 BCEGreek colonists from the island of Thera found the city of Cyrene in North Africa.
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460 BCECyrene becomes a republic.
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c. 398 BCE - c. 380 BCEPlato travels in Egypt, Cyrene, Italy, Syracuse and Sicily.
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323 BCEAfter Alexander the Great's death, Cyrene becomes subject of the Ptolemaic Empire.
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322 BCECyrene is invaded by the rogue commander Thibron; port of Apollonia is damaged.
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322 BCEThibron is defeated by Ophellas of the Ptolemaic Dynasty; Ophellas becomes governor of Cyrene.
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276 BCE - 250 BCEMagas rules as king of Cyrene; silphium plant is featured prominently on currency.
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276 BCE - 195 BCELife of Eratosthenes, ancient Greek Alexandrian scholar, native of Cyrene and one of the greatest geographers in antiquity.
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96 BCECyrenaica becomes a Roman province.
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74 BCEThe city of Cyrene comes under Roman control.
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c. 27 BCEAugustus makes Gortyn the capital of the Roman province of Crete & Cyrene.
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262 CEAn earthquake devastates Cyrene.
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365 CEAfter another earthquake Cyrene becomes an abandonded city of ruins.
