Cyrene or Greek: Kyrene is a huntress heroine of Greek mythology. In legend, Apollo founds and names the Greek colony Cyrene in North Africa in her honor. A Thessalian princess, she becomes a powerful queen, companion of Artemis and consort of Apollo.
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The original founders of the city are settlers from Thera or Santorini. Most of the island sinks into sea during a cataclysmic volcanic eruption in c. 1600 BCE. These settlers are later, from c. 700 BCE.
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Cyrene today is the ruin of an ancient Greek colony and Roman city. The site is near Shahhat in NE Libya, North Africa, looking out over the Mediterranean Sea. The city stands as part of the Pentapolis, a group of five interactive cities called Cyrenaica in classical times.
With Apollo she has 2-3 children. They are Aristaeus, Idmon and possibly Autuchus. Aristaeus is a god of animal husbandry, bee-keeping and cheese making. He's also a patron of rustic artisans and practical crafts. The wise centaur Chiron is his teacher.
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Idmon is a famed seer, inheriting Apollo's gifts of prophecy and divination. Apollo is his teacher. With other heroes he sails on the divine ship Argo. The 50 Argonauts also include Herakles, medicine god Asclepius, warriors Castor and Pollux, and ship builder Argos.
Cyrene is known for her stamina and strength as a huntress. Fifth century CE epic poet Nonnus of Panopolis calls her a "deer-chasing second Artemis, the girl lionkiller" and "a champion in the leafy forest with lionslaying hands".
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In Thesmophoriazusae by Aristophanes, Mnesilochus beholds the poet Agathon dressed and accessorized with both male and female attributes. Mnesilochus says he "can't see a man there at all - only Cyrene".
The goddess Artemis gives Cyrene two hunting dogs. With help of the dogs, Cyrene wins the prize in the funeral games of Pelias, the uncle of Jason. It's Pelias who sends Jason and the Argonauts on the quest for the Golden Fleece at Colchis on the Black Sea.
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According to Theban epic poet Pindar, in his Pythian Ode (c. 470 BCE):
" ... And by Hypseus was reared this maid, Cyrene of the lovely arms. But she loved not the pacing tread this way and that beside the loom, nor the delights of merry feasts with her companions in the household. But the bronze-tipped javelin and the sword called her to combat and slay the wild animals of the field; and in truth many a day she gave of peaceful quiet to her father's livestock."
"... When a lion attacked her father's sheep, Cyrene wrestled with the lion and Cyrene killed that lion. Apollo, who was present, admired her bravery and skills. He fell in love with her, but wondered if it would be correct to make her his bride. But after consulting and getting an approval by Chiron, he carried her away to North Africa in his golden car. After Apollo made her the queen of the fertile and rich land, Aphrodite welcomed them both."
" ... And Aphrodite of the silver feet welcomed this guest from Delos, laying the touch of her light hand upon his god-built car, and over the sweet bliss of their bridal she spread love's shy and winsome modesty, plighting in joint wedlock the god and maiden daughter of wide-ruling Hypseus ...That very day saw the decision, and in a chamber of rich gold in Libya they lay together. There she is guardian of a city rich in beauty."
After Cyrene bears their sons, Apollo transforms her into a nymph. She can then keep hunting as much as she pleases and will never age. He often helps her by lifting her hunting nets.
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Her son Aristaeus sets the wheels of a disastrous myth in motion. He pursues Eurydice, the wife of Orpheus. While fleeing, she steps on a snake. It bites her, and she dies. Eurydice is an Auloniad or nymph of mountain meadows. Due to her death, the bees of Aristaeus perish.
Upset, he goes to his mother. Cyrene consoles him and tells him to find Proteus, a shape-shifting sea god who gives his wisdom only to one who can capture and hold him. Aristaeus finds Proteus and clutches onto him, as the god becomes monsters and venomous snakes.
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Eventually Proteus gives up. He tells Aristaeus to make amends for the death of Eurydice. He is to sacrifice twelve animals to the gods, leave the carcasses at the sacrificial site and come back in three days.
After following instructions he returns to find a swarm of bees in one of the carcasses. He takes the bees to his apiary, and they are never again troubled by disease.
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Meanwhile, Orpheus sets out to free his beloved Eurydice. With his enchanting music he puts three-headed dog Cerberus, guardian of the gates, into a deep sleep. Orpheus reaches an agreement with Underworld god Hades (Tartarus).
Eurydice will follow him out as he plays his music, but he's forbidden to look back. Not hearing her however, and fearing trickery, he looks over his shoulder, and she vanishes forever with a cry.
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Unable to bear his life any longer, Orpheus runs into the forest. He plays a mourning song on his lyre and says he will never love another woman, only men. He's torn to pieces by a band of wild Maenads, followers of Dionysus.
And so it goes. The Cyrene city and region remain until medieval times. Ruins of the golden age are in the area of today's Shahhat, northern Libya.
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