Ancient Coin Stories

Traditional founding date of Carthage by Phoenician settlers from Tyre, led by Queen Dido (according to legend).

Kyrene founded by settlers from Thera, with help from navigators at Itanos. Battos I becomes its first king.

Death of Battos I of Kyrene. His son Arkesilaos I becomes king and accomplishes nothing that we remember.

Death of Arkesilaos I of Kyrene. His son Battos II takes power who keeps the sovereignty of Kyrene over Egypt.

Carthage wins a significant victory against the Greek city of Phokaia near Corsica, marking the beginning of its rivalry with Greek settlements in the western Mediterranean.

The indigenous Libyans ask Pharaoh Apries for help against the Greeks in Kyrene. He is defeated at the Battle of Irasa.

Death of Battos II of Kyrene. His son Arkesilaos II takes power and oversees the decline of the dynasty.

Arkesilaos II of Kyrene is strangled by his advisor Learchos, who is then killed when he returns to the city to become king. Battos III becomes king.

Battos III of Kyrene makes a pact with Pharaoh Amasis II. Amasis marries his daughter Ladike.

Death of Battos III of Kyrene, who with Demonax of Mantineia had reformed Kyrene’s constitution. Arkesilaos III becomes king.

Arkesilaos III of Kyrene makes a pact with Cambyses II of Persia.

Arkesilaos III of Kyrene wishes to revert the laws setup by Demonax of Mantineia. This leads to armed conflict where he is defeated and flees to Samos.

Arkesilaos III returns to Kyrene from Samos and is able to take the city. Fearing a backlash, he leaves to his father-in-law in Barka, where he is recognized by exiles and killed. His mother Pheretima takes over Kyrene.

Death of Pheretima, ruler of Kyrene. Battos IV, son of Arkesilaos III, takes over.

Carthage signs its first known treaty with Rome, delineating spheres of influence and trade routes.

Carthage invades Sicily, but are defeated by Theron of Akragas and Gelon of Gela and Syracuse.

Death of Battos IV, king of Kyrene, which became a client kingdom of Persia during his reign. Leadership falls to his son, Arkesilaos IV.

Arkesilaos IV, king of Kyrene, wins a chariot race at the Pythian Games in Delphi.

Kyrene gives refuge to Athenian soldiers who had been defeated by the Persians in Egypt.

The unpopular Arkesilaos IV and his son are killed and beheaded by citizens of Kyrene, which ends the Battiad dynasty.

Spartan forces travelling to Sicily are taken by winds to Kyrene, who gives them ships to return.

Hannibal Mago (a general and political leader) expands Carthaginian territories in Sicily, initiating a new wave of Carthaginian influence on the island.

Akragas sacked by Carthage.

Approximate year that Ariston takes control over Kyrene and kills 500 prominent citizens.

Messenians sent away from Naupaktos travel to Kyrene and join in the effort against Ariston, but most are killed.

The general Himilco of Carthage concludes a treaty with Kephaloidion.

Syracuse signs a treaty with Carthage that increases its possessions.

The population of Hipponion returns to their city with the help of Carthage.

Carthage renews its treaty with Rome, reinforcing agreements on trade and territorial boundaries. Mastia is mentioned.

Timoleon of Syracuse drives Carthaginians out of Akragas and declares it a free city.

Kyrene sends offers of friendship to Alexander the Great in Egypt, but do not come under Macedonian control.

A food crisis erupts in the Greek world that was likely caused by Alexander the Great’s campaigns in the East, which disrupted traditional trade routes. Kyrene sends grain to many cities including Athens, Sparta, Rhodes, Thebes, Argos, and Atrax.

The Spartan mercenary Thibron gathers exiles from Kyrene in Cretea and takes the city. However, one of his officers defects to the other side and he is ousted.

Thibron returns to Kyrene and takes it again.

Ophellas is sent by Ptolemy I to occupy Kyrene and succeeds.

Kyrene is considered part of the territory of Ptolemy I at the Treaty of Triparidisos.

The people of Kyrene attempt to oust the Macedonian garrison of Ptolemy I under Ophellas, but fail.

Outbreak of the Agathokles War: The tyrant Agathokles of Syracuse invades North Africa, threatening Carthage but is ultimately repelled.

Agathokles‘ conflict with Carthage escalates. Agathokles faces a major invasion by the Carthaginian general Hamilcar, who besieges Syracuse. In a daring move, Agathokles decides to strike back by invading North Africa.

Agathokles launches his expedition to North Africa, landing near Carthage. His unexpected attack catches the Carthaginians off guard, and he achieves several victories on African soil. Agathokles declares himself king of Sicily during this campaign, marking a significant shift in his ambitions.

Agathokles persuades Ophellas of Kyrene to join him as an ally against Carthage. Agathokles at first receives him warmly, then attacks his camp unexpectedly, kills Ophellas, and claims his troops.

Marriage of Demetrios Poliorketes to Eurydike, an Athenian noblewoman and the widow of Ophellas of Kyrene.

Kyrene ousts the garrison of Ptolemy I.

Magas reestablishes the control of Ptolemy I at Kyrene.

Pyrrhos travels to Sicility and lifts a siege of Syracuse by Carthage.

Pyrrhos captures Eryx, the most powerful stronghold of Carthage on Siciliy.

The navy of Pyrrhos is defeated by Carthage at the Battle of the Strait of Messina.

Magas refuses to submit to Ptolemy II Philadelphos and declares himself king of Kyrene.

First Punic War begins between Rome and Carthage over control of Sicily.

Rome lays siege to Akragas. Carthage attempts to relieve it, but the city is taken and its inhabitants sold into slavery.

Roman troops near Thermai Himeraiai are attacked by Carthage under Hamilcar and defeated.

Carthage recaptures Akragas.

Iaitas expel their garrison from Carthage and hand the city over to the Romans.

Death of Magas, king of Kyrene. His wife Apama takes over.

Berenike II marries Ptolemy III, bringing control of Kyrene back to the Ptolemies.

Peace settlement ends the First Punic War between Carthage and Rome. Akragas is given to Rome.

Hamilcar Barca begins the Carthaginian expansion in Iberia (Spain), establishing a base for Carthage’s later campaigns.

Hasdrubal of Carthage renames Mastia to Qart Hadasht, or “New City”.

Carthaginian general Hannibal attacks Saguntum in Iberia, leading to the Second Punic War with Rome.

Battle of Cannae: Hannibal of Carthage defeats a large Roman army, inflicting one of Rome’s worst defeats.

Akragas shifts its loyalty to Carthage in the Second Punic War.

Thourion defects to Carthage after the Battle of Cannae.

Hannibal of Carthage removes the citizens of Atella to Thourion.

Aesernia remains loyal to Rome during the Second Punic War against Carthage.

Hannibal of Carthage removes 3500 wealthy citizens of Thourion to Krotona, then lets his troops plunder it.

Battle of Zama: Roman general Scipio Africanus defeats Hannibal in North Africa, ending the Second Punic War. Carthage is forced to surrender and pay heavy reparations to Rome.

Kyrene is established as a separate kingdom by Ptolemy VIII after he is banished.

Third Punic War begins after Roman accusations of Carthaginian breaches of treaty terms.

Destruction of Carthage: Roman forces led by Scipio Aemilianus capture and destroy Carthage, ending the war. The city is burned, and its survivors are sold into slavery.

The Roman Senate authorizes the establishment of a new Roman colony, Colonia Junonia, on the site of Carthage, though it is soon abandoned.

Kyrene becomes part of the Roman Empire.

Kyrene receives its first Roman governor, Publius Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus.

The Roman Senate chooses Gortyna over Knossos as the capital of the new province Crete and Kyrene.

Gortyna made the capital of the Roman province of Crete and Carthage.

Julius Caesar refounds Carthage as Colonia Julia Carthago, establishing it as a Roman colony and initiating new construction.

Augustus completes the rebuilding of Carthage, which becomes the center of Africa Proconsularis, a key province of the Roman Empire.

A massive Jewish revolt breaks out in Kyrene. Nearly all of the city’s buildings are destroyed.

Hadrian visits Kyrene.

Emperor Hadrian visits Carthage, promoting further development and establishing it as a thriving Roman city.

Emperor Septimius Severus, a native of North Africa, grants Carthage additional privileges, marking it as a prominent city within the Roman Empire.

Much of Kyrene is destroyed by an earthquake.

Maximian makes a triumphal entry into Carthage.

An earthquake destroys Aptera, Gortyna, Eleutherna, and Knossos on Crete. Alexandria is devastated by a tsunami, and Kyrene is also affected by the same tsunami. Kydonia is also damaged. In the Peloponnese, Messene is affected.

Heraclianus raises a rebellion in Africa, then attempts to attack Honorius in Italy. The attack is repulsed and Heraclianus returns to Carthage, where he is killed.