Bible Dictionaries
Cyrene

Holman Bible Dictionary

(ci ree' nee) The home of a certain Simon who was compelled to carry Jesus' cross to the place of crucifixion (Matthew 27:32 ). Located in northern Africa, it was the capital city of the Roman district of Cyrenaica during the New Testament era. Cyrenaica and Crete formed one province. Simon of Cyrene may have belonged to the rather large population of Greek-speaking Jews who resided in the city during the first part of the first century A.D. See Simon of Cyrene.