Contact and Conflict: The Greeks in Ancient Cyrenaica

For 600 years a flourishing Greek culture existed in eastern Libya. The area was dominated by Cyrene, a Greek colony founded in the 7th century BC, which in turn founded several Greek cities in this part of North Africa known as Cyrenaica. With a regional focus the project is based on an analysis of the combined historical and archaeological sources. An analysis of the networks through which Cyrenaica was connected to the rest of the Greek world – trade and economy as well as religion and culture in a broad sense – is of particular importance. The Greek presence in Cyrenaica is characterized by both contact and conflict with the Libyans who lived there. Given the current situation in the country with ancient sites threatened by destruction and looting, the project seeks to highlight the cultural heritage of ancient Greek Cyrenaica.