Cyre'ne. The principal city of that part of northern Africa which was
sufficiently called Cyrenaica, lying between Carthage and Egypt, and
corresponding with the modern Tripoli. Though on the African coast, it
was a Greek city, and the Jews were settled there in large numbers. The Greek
colonization of this part of Africa under Battus began of early as B.C. 631.
After the death of Alexander the Great, it became a dependency of Egypt,
and a Roman province, B.C. 75. Simon, who bore our Saviour's cross, Mat_27:32, was a native of Cyrene.
Jewish dwellers in Cyrenaica were in Jerusalem at Pentecost, Act_2:10, and gave their name to one of the
synagogues in Jerusalem. Act_6:9.
Christian converts from Cyrene were among those who contributed actively to the
formation of the first Gentile church at Antioch. Act_11:20.
Source:
Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Cyrene
sī-rē´nē (Κυρήνη,
Kurḗnē “wall”):
1. Location
Cyrene was a city of Libya in North Africa, lat. 32 degrees 40´ North,
long. 22 degrees 15´ East. It lay West of ancient Egypt, from which it was
separated by a portion of the Libyan desert, and occupied the territory now
belonging to Barca and Tripoli. It was situated upon an elevated plateau about
2,000 ft. above the sea, from which it was distant some 10 miles. A high range
of mountains lies to the South, about 90 miles inland. This shelters the coast
land from the scorching heat of the Sahara. The range drops down toward the
North in a series of terrace-like elevations, Thus giving to the region a great
variety of climate and vegetation. The soil is fertile.
2. History
Cyrene was originally a Greek colony rounded by Battus in 630 bc.
Because of the fertility of the soil, the great variety in climate and
vegetation, together with its commercial advantages in location, the city soon
rose to great wealth and importance. Greater fame, however, came to it through
its distinguished citizens. It was the home of Callimachus the poet, Carneacles
the founder of the New Academy at Athens, and Eratosthenes the mathematician.
To these must be added, from later times, the elegant ancient Christian writer
Synesius. So important did this Greek colony become that, in little more than
half a century, Amasis II of Egypt formed an alliance with Cyrene, marrying a
Greek lady of noble, perhaps royal, birth (Herod. ii.181). Ptolemy III
(Euergetes I), 231 bc, incorporated Cyrene with Egypt. The city continued,
though with much restlessness, a part of the Egyptian empire until Apion, the
last of the Ptolemies, willed it to Rome. It henceforth belonged to a Roman
province. In the middle of the 7th century, the conquering Saracens took
possession of Cyrene, and from that time to this it has been the habitation of
wandering tribes of Arabs.
3. Biblical Importance
Cyrene comes into importance in Biblical history through the dispersion
of the Jews. Ptolemy I, son of Lagus, transported Jews to this and other cities
of Libya (Josephus, CAp, II, 4) and from this time on Jews were very
numerous there. By the return of the Jews of the Dispersion to the feasts at
Jerusalem, Cyrenians came to have a conspicuous place in the New Testament
history. “A man of Cyrene, Simon by name,” was caught by the Roman soldiers and
compelled to bear the cross of Jesus (Mat_27:32;
compare Mar_15:21; Luk_23:26). See CYRENIAN. Jews from Cyrene were
among those present on the day of Pentecost. Their city appears as one of the
important points in the wide circle of the Dispersion described by Peter in his
sermon on that occasion (Act_2:10).
Cyrenian Jews were of sufficient importance in those days to have their name
associated with a synagogue at Jerusalem (Act_6:9).
And when the persecution arose about Stephen, some of these Jews of Cyrene who
had been converted at Jerusalem, were scattered abroad and came with others to
Antioch and preached the word “unto the Jews only” (Act_11:19,
Act_11:20 the King James Version), and
one of them, Lucius, became a prophet in the early church there. In this case,
as in so many others, the wise providence of God in the dispersion of the Jews
in preparation for the spread of the gospel of the Messiah is seen.
4. Archaeology
In the ruins of Cyrene are to be seen the remains of some beautiful
buildings, and a few sculptures have been removed. The most interesting remains
of the wondrous civilization of this Greek colony are in a great system of
tombs, some built, but the finest cut in the solid rock of the cliff. Doric
architecture and brilliant decorative painting adorn these tombs.
Literature
Herodotus ii; Josephus, Apion; Thrige, Res Cyrenensium.
Source:
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Cyrene
A city (now Tripoli) in Upper Libya, North Africa, founded by a colony
of Greeks (630 B.C.). It contained latterly a large number of Jews, who were
introduced into the city by Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, because he thought they
would contribute to the security of the place. They increased in number and
influence; and we are thus prepared for the frequent references to them in
connection with the early history of Christianity. Simon, who bore our Lord's
cross, was a native of this place (Mat_27:32;
Mar_15:21). Jews from Cyrene were in
Jerusalem at Pentecost (Act_2:10); and
Cyrenian Jews had a synagogue at Jerusalem (Act_6:9).
Converts belonging to Cyrene contributed to the formation of the first Gentile
church at Antioch (Act_11:20). Among
“the prophets and teachers” who “ministered to the Lord at Antioch” was Lucius
of Cyrene (Act_13:1).
Source:
Easton’s Bible Dictionary