Cyrene is an ancient city near the northern coast of Africa, in Cyrenaica (now eastern Libya). It was a Greek colony founded by Aristoteles of Thera, who became king of Cyrene as Battus. For eight generations the monarchs were alternately named Battus and Arcesilas. Having important commerce with Greece, the little city-state flourished. Other cities were founded in Cyrenaica, notably Barca, but Cyrene retained power. In the late 6th century. Cyrene submitted to the Persians under Cambyses II, but later became independent again. Although the city became subject to Alexander the Great in 331 and was later practically annexed by the Ptolemies of Egypt, it seems to have had nominal independence until the marriage of Berenice, the daughter of Cyrene's king, to Ptolemy III . Cyrene remained part of the Ptolemaic kingdom until 96 BC It was later the center of a Roman province. Under the Roman emperor Trajan there were Jewish uprisings, which were severely punished, and Cyrene declined. At its prime Cyrene was a large and beautiful city and an intellectual center noted for its schools of medicine and philosophy. Aristippus, Callimachus, Eratosthenes, and Synesius were born here. Extensive ruins include the temple of Apollo, the agora, the capitol, the acropolis, and the theater.