Cyrene Gladiator Arena

The Cyrene Gladiator Arena was a gladiator arena located in Cyrene. As one of the gladiator arenas located in Kyrenaika, it was popular among the citizens of Cyrene and the province.
==History==
The Roman general, Julius Caesar, challenged the arena at some point, clashing against Polymestor, a Thracian gladiator. Caesar defeated the gladiator, eventually sparing him and gave him a sword to signify his freedom.Assassin's Creed: Origins
Sometime later, the Medjay, Bayek challenged the arena in 47 BCE, having being directed by Felix Martialis, the owner of the arena in Krokodilopolis.Assassin's Creed: Origins – The Lure of Glory Bayek clashed with opponents from various parts of Europe, namely The Hammer from , The Axes from , The Hoplite and The Seleucid, both from Greece and The Duelist from China, defeating them with a variety of weapons.
Shortly after, Bayek returned to take part in the arena, this time facing hordes of fighters, as part of a deal with Thanasis to free Kosey from his employment. Upon finishing his battle, Bayek left the arena, only to find out that Thanasis had betrayed his part of the deal and left to find Kosey.Assassin's Creed: Origins – Here Comes a New Challenger
==Rewards==
*Priest of Ma'at: defeat The Hammer
*Freeman Sword: defeat The Hoplite
*Roman Legionary outfit: defeat The Duelist
==Behind the scenes==
The arena appears to be visually based on the or more likely its reconstruction by Jean-Claude Golvin considering that he consulted the development team of Origins.Jean-Claude Golvin. North Africa. jeanclaudegolvin.com. Accessed 28 April 2020. Locationwise the arena appears to stand in for a Roman theater built in the market of the city.Temehu. A Map of The Archaeological Sites of Cyrene. temehu.com. Accessed 28 April 2020. However, the El Jem architecture of the arena is anachronistic and the market theater was also probably built later than the game's period. Instead, during this time the Cyrene Theatre was utilized by the Romans and was expanded in the 2nd century CE to serve as arena.Cyrene, Shahhat, Jabal al Akhdar, Libya. www.triphistoric.com. Accessed 21 September 2018Pleiades. Theater of Cyrene. pleiades.stoa.org. Accessed 28 April 2020.The Theatre-Amphitheatre of the sanctuary of Apollo at Cyrene. ghn.globalheritagefund.org. Accessed 28 April 2020.
There are Persian columns and Lamassu statues present in the arena.Assassin's Creed Origins - Cyrene Arena Work. www.artstation.com. Accessed 14 May 2019Persian Assets in Origins and Odyssey. www.reddit.com. Accessed 14 May 2019
==Gallery==
ACO Gladiators The Hammer.jpg|The Hammer waiting in the arena
ACO Gladiators The Axes.jpg|The Axes waiting in the arena
ACO Gladiators The Hoplite.jpg|The Hoplite waiting in the arena
ACO Gladiators The Seleucid.jpg|The Seleucid waiting in the arena
ACO Gladiators The Duelist.jpg|The Duelist waiting in the arena
ACO Bayek fighting Ptolemaic army stalker in arena.jpg|Bayek fighting in the arena
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed: Origins
==References==
Category:Theatres
Category:Gladiatorial arenas
Category:Landmarks in Cyrene