Cyrene (Nymph)
nymphA fearless huntress nymph who wrestled lions and founded a city in Libya.
The Myth
Cyrene was a Thessalian nymph who scorned weaving and domestic arts, preferring to hunt wild beasts and guard her father's flocks. Apollo watched her wrestle a lion barehanded and fell instantly in love. He carried her to Libya in his golden chariot, where she founded the city that bears her name. The Greek colony of Cyrene became one of the wealthiest cities in the ancient world, famed for its silphium trade and intellectual culture.
Parents
Hypseus
Children
Symbols
Fun Fact
The real city of Cyrene in modern Libya, founded around 631 BCE, has spectacular Greek ruins and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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