The pronunciation of “Cyrene” is a common question, as it is a unique name with an unusual spelling. The correct pronunciation is “suh-REE-nee”, with the emphasis on the second syllable. The name is derived from the Greek city of Cyrene, which was founded in the 7th century BC.
Cyrene is an important city in ancient history, as it was one of the major centers of Greek culture and learning. It was also the birthplace of the philosopher Aristippus, who founded the Cyrenaic school of philosophy. The city was eventually conquered by the Romans in the 1st century BC, and it remained an important Roman city until the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD.