Cyrene

Greek city in n. Africa, w. from Alexandria, 9 m. from coast and 1,800 ft. above sea. Founded 631 B.C., from Sparta, it was ruled by kings till 430 B.C., was subject to the Ptolemies, and to Rome from 75 B.C.; destroyed ab. 616 by Chosroes. It gave name to a school of philosophers. ARISTIPPUS (q.v.), Call i mach us, and Synesius, were born here.