Cyrene (Shahat) is a Model of a City-state in Greek Libya

A Study in Cultural History

Abstract

Cyrene was a major economic power during the Greek period, its rulers were patrons of arts and literature, and its sanctuaries rivaled those in Greece in size, grandeur, and beauty. Cyrene was Greek in appearance and essence, and its value was no less than the great Greek city-states like Athens, Corinth, and Sparta. The story of the founding of Cyrene can be found detailed in the founding myth among classical writers like Herodotus and Pindar. There are two main versions of the myth: one emphasizes the role of King Battus and his followers from Thera in the colonization project, while the other attributes the founding of the city to the god Apollo, who accompanied the playful nymph Thessalia to Libya to be paired with her at a fresh spring called by the Libyans Kyra on the middle plateau of the Aljabal Alkhder, thus giving the city its name, Cyrene. Therefore, this research aims to study the city of Cyrene, its establishment, landmarks, squares, and provide a comprehensive overview of Cyrene as a city-state.