Cyrene

One of the men we meet in Mark's gospel is Simon of Cyrene. The city of Cyrene was originally a Greek colony in the 7th century B.C., about the time of good King Josiah in Jerusalem. Later it became a Roman colony. It is near the Mediterranean coast, at an elevation of about 2000 feet, a little lower than Jerusalem, which has an elevation of about 2500 feet. Though Cyrene is not a going city now, its location on a plateau above the sea catches rainfall and even snow.

[Click the photo to view full size photo of snow on a city street about 8 miles from Cyrene's ruins.]

Many Jews lived in Cyrene. They travelled to Jerusalem to celebrate Jewish festivals, and this is how we meet Simon of Cyrene.

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