Cyrene: Difference between revisions
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|founded = Colonists from [[Thera]] led by [[Battus I of Cyrene|Battus I]] | |founded = Colonists from [[Thera]] led by [[Battus I of Cyrene|Battus I]] | ||
|date = 630 BCE | |date = 630 BCE | ||
|abandoned = | |abandoned = 365 CE | ||
|landmark = [[Agora of Cyrene]]<br>[[Temple of Zeus, Cyrene|Temple of Zeus]] | |||
|targets = [[Flavius Metellus]]<br>[[Leander (Cyrenean)|Leander]]}} | |targets = [[Flavius Metellus]]<br>[[Leander (Cyrenean)|Leander]]}} | ||
'''Cyrene''' was an ancient [[Greece|Greek]] city stationed in present-day [[Libya]], situated in a lush valley in the [[Green Mountains]]. It was the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region. | '''Cyrene''' was an ancient [[Greece|Greek]] city stationed in present-day [[Libya]], situated in a lush valley in the [[Green Mountains]]. It was the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region. | ||
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Founding=== | ===Founding=== | ||
The city's origin traced back to [[Battus I of Cyrene|Battus I]], a [[Thera]]n who sought out the [[Pythia]] at the [[Sanctuary of Delphi]] in the 7th century BCE. The Pythia gave him a prophecy and ordered him to find and establish a city in [[Libya]]. Battus did so and led a group of residents from Thera to Libya, thus founding the city of Cyrene and its colony of [[Cyrenaica]] in 630 BCE. Battus served as its king until his death in 600 BCE. | The city's origin traced back to [[Battus I of Cyrene|Battus I]], a [[Thera]]n who sought out the [[Pythia]] at the [[Sanctuary of Delphi]] in the 7th century BCE. The Pythia gave him a prophecy and ordered him to find and establish a city in [[Libya|North Africa]].<ref name="Cyrene">''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]] – [[Discovery Tour]]'' – "The Founding of Cyrene" – Cyrene</ref> Battus did so and led a group of residents from Thera to Libya, thus founding the city of Cyrene and its colony of [[Cyrenaica]] in 630 BCE. The population steadily increasing, eventually making it the first and largest of the five colonial cities in the region.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Origins – Discovery Tour'' – "The Founding of Cyrene" – Cyrenaica</ref> Battus served as its king until his death in 600 BCE. During the first two centuries of the city's lifespan, a series of kings reigned over it. But rebellion eventually ended the monarchy and afterwards the city was ruled by the aristocracy.<ref name="Cyrene" /> However a [[Tomb of Battos|tomb]] was later erected in the city to serve as his resting place. | ||
===Roman period=== | |||
Under [[Roman Republic|Roman]] influence, the city became an economic powerhouse and rose in status throughout the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]]. Cyrene had a medicinal school established in the city, it rivaled all other Greek institutes bar the school of [[Kos]], [[Greece]]. The city spawned several influential mathematicians, astronomers, and geographers, those that weren't born in the city established schools in it. [[Aristippos]], a pupil of [[Sokrates]], founded a philosophy institute there.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Origins – Discovery Tour'' – "The Founding of Cyrene" – An Economic Powerhouse</ref> | |||
[[File:Origins Quest22TheFinalWeighing Part11.PNG|thumb|250px|Bayek meeting with Diocles in Cyrene]] | [[File:Origins Quest22TheFinalWeighing Part11.PNG|thumb|250px|Bayek meeting with Diocles in Cyrene]] | ||
Since at least 49 BCE, the city was governed by [[Flavius Metellus]], a leader of the [[Order of the Ancients]]. In 47 BCE, the [[Medjay]] [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] arrived in Cyrene in order to hunt down Flavius, who obtained an [[Apple of Eden 2|Apple of Eden]]. Upon arriving in the city, Bayek met with [[Diocles]], a friend of the Greek healer [[Praxilla (Cyrenean)|Praxilla]] whom Bayek had met in a farm south of Cyrene. Diocles directed Bayek to the [[Roman Akropolis]], a fortification wherein Flavius resided. Bayek infiltrated the fort and confronted the Roman, killing him and retrieving the Apple of Eden from him.<ref name="The Final Weighing">''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' – [[The Final Weighing]]</ref> | |||
After Flavius' defeat, Bayek met with Diocles in the [[Agora of Cyrene|Agora]], where he was informed of a corrupt magistrate [[Leander (Cyrenean)|Leander]] who worked with Flavius. Diocles sent Bayek to locate his friend [[Simonides]], who previously attended an event at Leander's [[Leander's Villa|villa]] but had not yet return, liking drinking at a tavern in the city.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' – [[Absolute Power]]</ref> | After Flavius' defeat, Bayek met with Diocles in the [[Agora of Cyrene|Agora]], where he was informed of a corrupt magistrate [[Leander (Cyrenean)|Leander]] who worked with Flavius. Diocles sent Bayek to locate his friend [[Simonides]], who previously attended an event at Leander's [[Leander's Villa|villa]] but had not yet return, liking drinking at a tavern in the city.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Origins'' – [[Absolute Power]]</ref> | ||
===Decline=== | |||
From 115 to 117 CE, a [[Kitos War|revolt]] in the Jewish quarter greatly damaged the city of Cyrene, the city was not rebuilt for some years. Over time, multiple continuous battles, poor management of its [[silphium]] crop and earthquakes took their toll on the city. By 365 BCE, the city had been completely abandoned.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Origins – Discovery Tour'' – "The Founding of Cyrene" – The Fall of Cyrene</ref> | |||
==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
Revision as of 11:40, 24 September 2019
| This article is about the city in Cyrenaica. You may be looking for the goddess the city was named after. |
Cyrene was an ancient Greek city stationed in present-day Libya, situated in a lush valley in the Green Mountains. It was the oldest and most important of the five Greek cities in the region.
The city was named after a spring, Kyre, which the Greeks consecrated to Apollo and was also the seat of the Cyrenaics, a famous school of philosophy in the 4th century BCE, founded by Aristippus, a disciple of Sokrates; it was then nicknamed the "Athens of Africa". Cyrene became part of the Ptolemaic Kingdom controlled from Alexandria during the 3rd century BCE, before becoming Roman territory in 96 BCE when the Ptolemies bequeathed Cyrenaica to Rome.
During the 1st century BCE, Cyrene was home to one of the gladiator arenas in Ptolemaic Egypt, the other located in Krokodilopolis.
History
Founding
The city's origin traced back to Battus I, a Theran who sought out the Pythia at the Sanctuary of Delphi in the 7th century BCE. The Pythia gave him a prophecy and ordered him to find and establish a city in North Africa.[1] Battus did so and led a group of residents from Thera to Libya, thus founding the city of Cyrene and its colony of Cyrenaica in 630 BCE. The population steadily increasing, eventually making it the first and largest of the five colonial cities in the region.[2] Battus served as its king until his death in 600 BCE. During the first two centuries of the city's lifespan, a series of kings reigned over it. But rebellion eventually ended the monarchy and afterwards the city was ruled by the aristocracy.[1] However a tomb was later erected in the city to serve as his resting place.
Roman period
Under Roman influence, the city became an economic powerhouse and rose in status throughout the Mediterranean. Cyrene had a medicinal school established in the city, it rivaled all other Greek institutes bar the school of Kos, Greece. The city spawned several influential mathematicians, astronomers, and geographers, those that weren't born in the city established schools in it. Aristippos, a pupil of Sokrates, founded a philosophy institute there.[3]
Since at least 49 BCE, the city was governed by Flavius Metellus, a leader of the Order of the Ancients. In 47 BCE, the Medjay Bayek of Siwa arrived in Cyrene in order to hunt down Flavius, who obtained an Apple of Eden. Upon arriving in the city, Bayek met with Diocles, a friend of the Greek healer Praxilla whom Bayek had met in a farm south of Cyrene. Diocles directed Bayek to the Roman Akropolis, a fortification wherein Flavius resided. Bayek infiltrated the fort and confronted the Roman, killing him and retrieving the Apple of Eden from him.[4]
After Flavius' defeat, Bayek met with Diocles in the Agora, where he was informed of a corrupt magistrate Leander who worked with Flavius. Diocles sent Bayek to locate his friend Simonides, who previously attended an event at Leander's villa but had not yet return, liking drinking at a tavern in the city.[5]
Decline
From 115 to 117 CE, a revolt in the Jewish quarter greatly damaged the city of Cyrene, the city was not rebuilt for some years. Over time, multiple continuous battles, poor management of its silphium crop and earthquakes took their toll on the city. By 365 BCE, the city had been completely abandoned.[6]
Trivia
- Cyrene is depicted in the game to be much closer to Alexandria than it was in reality. It was actually located almost 500 miles west, near the modern-day village of Shahhat in Libya.
- The mosaic seen in the agora concept art appears to be inspired by the Stag Hunt Mosaic from Pella.
- The Roman soldiers depicted in the various artworks wear anachronistic equipment typical for the mid 1st century CE.
- The gatehouses of the city walls look more like triumphal arches rather than proper gatehouses.
Gallery
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Cyrene as seen from the Oracle of Apollo -
Concept Art Cyrene's Agora district -
Concept Art of Cyrene's gates at dawn -
Production SKetches of Cyrene -
Concept Art of Cyrene as viewed from Qara road -
Concept Art of Cyrene's gates -
Concept Art of Cyrene's Rich district
Appearances
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Origins – Discovery Tour – "The Founding of Cyrene" – Cyrene
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Discovery Tour – "The Founding of Cyrene" – Cyrenaica
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Discovery Tour – "The Founding of Cyrene" – An Economic Powerhouse
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – The Final Weighing
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Absolute Power
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins – Discovery Tour – "The Founding of Cyrene" – The Fall of Cyrene