Cyrene, or, the ‘Athens of Africa’, is an ancient city on the slopes of the green mountain of Kyrenaika, a coastal region in eastern Libya.

A kind of natural canyon connects the lower city with the upper city that originated later. In the rock walls of the canyons, on the same level as the lower city, are a number of well preserved caves in which the Greeks had their baths. These bathing places contained niches and annexes and were supplied with water by the Apollon Spring.

The Forum became the centre of city life, built above a Greek agora and surrounded by temples and monuments. Like that of the Greek Ship Monument that was erected following a successful battle at sea, with the winged goddess of victory, Nike, on the bow of a stone ship.

The ruins of Cyrene have survived for thousands of years and continue to fascinate with all the intriguing mystique of antiquity.