A Greek myth first recorded by Pindar in the early fifth century BC reports that the god Apollo fell in love with the huntress Cyrene and brought her to Libya, where she gave birth to a son Aristaeus. Greek historical traditions, reported in Herodotus' Histories and in a fourth-century BC inscription found at Cyrene, say that a group of Cretan Greeks, who had been expelled from Sparta and settled on the island of Thera, founded Cyrene in 631 BC, under the leadership of Battus I, at the prompting of the Oracle of Delphi. Some traditions say that the settlers left Thera because of a famine, others because of a civil war. Most say that the colonists first settled on an island at Aziris (east of Derna) before relocating to Cyrene. The historicity of these narratives is uncertain, particularly the idea that Thera was Cyrene's sole "mother city." Relationships with other cities, such as Sparta and Samos, mentioned in the foundation narratives, are uncertain.
a greek myth first recorded by pindar in the early fifth century bc reports that the god apollo fell in love with the huntress cyrene and brought her to libya where she gave birth to a son aristaeus greek historical traditions reported in herodotus' histories and in a fourth-century bc inscription found at cyrene say that a group of cretan greeks who had been expelled from sparta and settled on the island of thera founded cyrene in 631 bc under the leadership of battus i at the prompting of the oracle of delphi some traditions say that the settlers left thera because of a famine others because of a civil war most say that the colonists first settled on an island at aziris (east of derna) before relocating to cyrene the historicity of these narratives is uncertain particularly the idea that thera was cyrene's sole "mother city" relationships with other cities such as sparta and samos mentioned in the foundation narratives are uncertain