Editing Cyrenaica (section)

=== Roman province ===
{{main|Crete and Cyrenaica|Praetorian prefecture of the East|Diocese of Egypt}}
[[File:Creta et Cyrene SPQR.png|thumb|[[Crete and Cyrenaica]], 2nd century [[Roman Empire]]]]
[[File:Cyrenaica Marmarica.jpg|thumb|Map of {{legend0|#f1d2d0|Cyrenaica}} and {{legend0|#f7d1bc|[[Marmarica]]}} in the Roman era ([[Samuel Butler (schoolmaster)|Samuel Butler]], 1907)]]

The Latin name ''Cyrenaica'' (or ''Kyrenika'') dates to the first century BC. Although some confusion exists as to the exact territory Rome inherited, by 78 BC it was organized as one administrative province together with [[Crete]]. It became a senatorial province in 20 BC, like its far more prominent western neighbor [[Africa proconsularis]], and unlike [[Roman Egypt|Egypt]] itself, which became an imperial domain ''sui generis'' (under a special governor styled ''[[praefectus augustalis]]'') in 30 BC.

[[File:Ptolemais Villa of Columns.JPG|thumb|Roman ruins of [[Ptolemais, Cyrenaica]]]]

[[Diocletian]]'s [[Tetrarchy]] reforms of 293 altered Cyrenaica's administrative structure. It was split into two provinces: '''Libya Superior''' or '''Libya Pentapolis''', comprising the above-mentioned Pentapolis, with Cyrene as its capital, and '''Libya Inferior''' or '''Libya Sicca''', comprising Marmarica, with the important port city of [[Paraetonium]] as its capital. Each came under a governor holding the modest rank of ''[[praeses]]''. Both belonged to the Diocese of the Orient, with its capital at Antioch in Syria, and from 370, to the [[Diocese of Egypt (Late Antiquity)|Diocese of Egypt]], within the [[Praetorian prefecture]] of [[Praetorian prefecture of the East|Oriens]]. Its western neighbor [[Tripolitania]], the largest split-off from Africa proconsularis, became part of the [[Diocese of Africa]], subordinate to the [[Praetorian prefecture of Italy|prefecture of ''Italia et Africa'']]. Following the [[365 Crete earthquake|Crete earthquake of 365]], the capital was moved to [[Ptolemais, Cyrenaica|Ptolemais]]. After the Empire's division, Cyrenaica became part of the East Roman Empire ([[Byzantine Empire]]), bordering Tripolitania. It was briefly part of the [[Vandal Kingdom]] to the west, until its [[Vandalic War|reconquest by Belisarius]] in 533.

The [[Tabula Peutingeriana]] shows ''Pentapolites'' to the east of ''[[Syrtes Maiores]]'', indicating the cities of Bernice, Hadrianopolis, Taucheira, Ptolomaide, Callis, Cenopolis, [[Balagrae|Balacris]] and Cyrene.<ref>Agricole Joseph F.X.P.E.S.P.A. Fortia d'Urban (marq. de), Bénigne Emmanuel C. Miller, ''Recueil des itinéraires anciens, comprenant l'itinéraire d'Antonin, la table de Peutinger, et un choix des périples grecs'', 1845, [https://books.google.com/books?id=yi4VAAAAQAAJ&dq=ptolomaide+Tauchira&pg=PA287 p. 286]</ref>

==== Christianization ====
{{See also|Early centers of Christianity#Cyrene}}

According to the [[Synoptic Gospels]], [[Simon of Cyrene]] carried the cross of Jesus Christ to the crucifixion.

According to one tradition, [[Mark the Evangelist]] was born in the Pentapolis, and later returned after preaching with [[Paul the Apostle]] in [[Colosse]] (Col 4:10) and [[Rome]] (Phil 24; 2 Tim 4:11); from Pentapolis he made his way to [[Alexandria]].<ref>[http://www.suscopts.org/coptic-orthodox/church/saint-mark/ "St. Mark the Apostle, the Founder of the Coptic Church"], Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States, accessed 19 May 2009</ref>

[[Early Christianity]] spread to Pentapolis from Egypt; [[Synesius of Cyrene]] (370–414), bishop of [[Ptolemais, Cyrenaica|Ptolemais]], received his instruction at Alexandria in both [[Catechetical School of Alexandria|the Catechetical School]] and the [[Mouseion]], and he entertained a great deal of reverence and affection for [[Hypatia]], the last pagan [[Neoplatonism|Neoplatonist]], whose classes he had attended. Synesius was raised to the episcopate by [[Theophilus I of Alexandria|Theophilus]], patriarch of Alexandria, in 410. Since the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325, Cyrenaica had been recognized as an ecclesiastical province of the [[Patriarchate of Alexandria|See of Alexandria]], per the ruling of the Nicaean Fathers.[[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|The patriarch of the Coptic Church]] to this day includes the Pentapolis in his title as an area within his jurisdiction.<ref>[http://www.coptic.net/articles/CoptsAndChristendom.txt "Atiya, Aziz S. "The Copts and Christian Civilization] Coptic.net</ref>

The Eparchy of the Western Pentapolis was part of the [[Coptic Orthodox Church]], as the [[Pope of Alexandria]] was the Pope of Africa. The most senior position in [[The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church]] after the Pope was the Metropolitan of Western Pentapolis, although, since its demise as a major Archiepiscopal Metropolis in the days of [[Pope John VI of Alexandria]], it was held as a Titular See attached to another Diocese.

After being repeatedly destroyed and restored during the Roman period Pentapolis became a mere borough, but was nevertheless the site of a diocese. Its bishop, [[Zopyrus (Bishop of Barca)|Zopyrus]], was present at the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325. The subscriptions at [[Ephesus]] (431) and [[Chalcedon]] (451) give the names of two other bishops, Zenobius and Theodorus.

Although it retained the title "Pentapolis", the ecclesiastic province actually included all of the Cyrenaica, not just the five cities. Pentapolis is still included in the title of Popes of the [[Coptic Orthodox Church]] and the [[Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria]].