Legio III Cyrenaica

Third Legion Cyrenaica
Legio III Cyrenaica
Legio Tertia Cyrenaica
Map of the Roman empire in AD 125, under emperor Hadrian, showing the Third Legion Cyrenaica, stationed at Bostra (Busra, Syria), in Arabia Petraea province, from AD 125 until as late as the 5th century
Active35(?) BC until as late as 430 AD
CountryRoman Republic (closing years) and Roman Empire (nearly all existence)
TypeRoman legion
Denarius minted by Mark Antony to pay his legions. On the reverse, the aquila of his Third legion.
Roman re-enactors portraying Legio III Cyrenaica.

Legio III Cyrenaica, (lit. Third Legion "Cyrenean") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. The legion had its origins among the forces of Mark Antony during the civil wars of late first century BC. In the Imperial period it was stationed in Egypt, where it played a key role in campaigns against the Nubians and Jews. In the first century AD, it was usually located in Arabia Petraea. There are still records of the legion in Syria at the beginning of the 5th century. The legion symbol is unknown.