The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

QUAESTIONES CYRENAICAE. 169
settlement was attempted under which Ophelias was
installed as governor. In the next year Ophelias,
watching his chance when Ptolemy had marched
against Demetrius, asserted his independence. He succeeded
in conciliating his subjects, and in maintaining
his rule for four years, till, dragged into the African
adventure of Agathocles, he perished by Sicilian
treachery. Ophelias had early entered into friendly
relations with Athens, and had married Eurydice, a
daughter of the noble house of Miltiades. Enticed to
throw in his lot with Agathocles against the Car-
thaginians, he approached the Athenians with a view
to an alliance, and many Athenians joined him to
assist in the conquest of Africa, for the agreement
with Agathocles was that the Carthaginian possessions
in Africa should fall to Gyrene, those in Sicily to
Syracuse. When the expedition had reached the
Carthaginian borders after an arduous journey, Ophelias
was treacherously murdered, and the remains of his
forces, incorporated into the Syracusan army, never
saw their homes again. After this blow Gyrene seems
to have been easily reconquered for Ptolemy by his
in 309-8. 125
stepson Magas
If we may assign our group of coins to the time
f Ophelias, we can find a satisfactory explanation of the
difficulties. The suggestion is supported by the date
)f the gold stater reading KYPANAION HTOAE-
MAIOY 0EY, which Svoronos, quite independently
f the questions here raised, assigns to the period
immediately succeeding the reduction of Gyrene by
25 For the history see Diod. xviii. 19 seqq., xix. 79, xx. 40-42,
ind Justin, xxii. 7.
NUMISM. CHKON., VOL. XV, SERIES IV. N