Cyrene
/saɪˈɹiːni/ proper noun
Forms Kyrene
- proper noun (Greek mythology) A Thessalian princess and huntress demigod, companion of Artemis, lover of Apollo, and mother of Aristaeus and Idmon.
- proper noun (historical) A former city near Shahhat, Libya.
Etymology
From Latin Cȳrēnē, from Ancient Greek Κυρήνη (Kurḗnē), of uncertain origin. Classical sources considered the Thessalian demigod the etymon for the Libyan city. Modern scholars variously derive the name from the Libyan spring Κύρα (Kúra) or, noting the myth attested before the spring or city, consider an existing Proto-Berber name to have been conflated with the Thessalian myths by early Greek colonists.
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “Cyrene”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details