The Extramural Sanctuary of Demeter and Persepho Background and Introduction to the Excavations

According to Herodotus, Cyrene was colonized by settlers from the island of Thera, later joined by other colonists from Crete, Samos, Laconia, and Rhodes. Traditionally the foundation date has been set at 631 B.C. The sanctuary began to develop within a generation of the establishment of the colony and continued in use until its destruction by an earthquake in A.D. 262. In this volume, the excavator presents the background of the site, the history of its excavation, and an overall view of the current project.