- Pentapolis meant ‘The Five Cities’ in Greek and referred to a group of cities in North Africa.
- The area was named Cyrenaica after the founding of the first city Cyrene in 631 BCE. It later became the Roman Province of Cyrenaica.
History
- After 332 BCE, the area came under the control of Greek occupied Egypt.
- In 96 BCE, Ptolemy Apion bequeathed the Pentapolis to Rome in his will, since he died without heirs.
- In 78 BCE it was officially made the Roman Province of Cyrenaica.
- In 69 BCE it was united with Crete to become Cyrenaica and Crete.
The Five Cities
- Cyrene and its Port Apollonia (Marsa Susa) 631 BCE was founded by Greek colonists from Thera.
- Arsinoe or Teuchira (Tocra)
- Euesperides or Bernice (near Benghazi)
- Balagrae (Al Bayda)
- Barci (Al Marj)
- Inland was the Temple of the Oracle (The Ammonium) at the Siwa Oasis
Cyrene, Libya