BATTUS, the legendary founder of the Greek colony of Cyrene in Libya (c. 63o B.e.). The Greeks who accompanied him were, like himself, natives of Thera, and descended partly from the race of the Minyae. Various accounts are given both of the founding of Cyrene and of the origin of the founder's name. Four kings named Battus, alternating with four named Arcesilaus, ruled in Cyrene (q.v.) till the fall of the dynasty about 450 B.C. See R. W. Macan's Herodotus IV.-V1. (1895), vol. i., pp. 104 et seq. and notes.