In Greek mythology, as recorded in Pindar's 9th Pythian ode, Cyrene (or Kyrene, Greek Κυρήνη) ("sovereign queen") was the daughter of Hypseus, King of the Lapiths. When a lion attacked her father's sheep, Cyrene wrestled with the lion. Apollo, who was present, immediately fell in love with her and kidnapped her. He took her to North Africa and founded the city of Cyrene in her name. The region, Cyrenaica, is also named for her. Together, she and Apollo had two sons: Aristaeus and Idmon.

Cyrene is also mentioned in the second and third hymns of Callimachus.

With Ares, Cyrene (if indeed this is the same Cyrene) was the mother of Diomedes of Thrace.

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