In Greek mythology, Libya, like Ethiopia or Scythia was one of the mythic outlands that encircled the familiar Greek world of the Hellenes and their "foreign" neighbors.
Personified as an individual, Libya was the daughter of Epaphus, a son of Zeus and King of Egypt, and Memphis. Libya was ravished by the god Poseidon to whom she bore twin sons, Belus and Agenor. Such genealogies, when applied to a personification of a land, were suggestive to Greek audiences, but need some explication for ordinary modern readers.
(some cautious explanation of the cultural/legendary meaning of this genealogy is needed)
Libya was a very poor agricultural country with bleak economic prospects until 1958, when petroleum was discovered 200–300 mi (320–480 km) S and SE of the Gulf of Sidra; crude petroleum was exported on an increasingly significant scale between 1961 and 1981.
Libya was made an integral part of Italy in 1939, and the Muslim population was granted a limited form of citizenship.
Libya agreed in 2003 to a $2.7 billion settlement with the families of the victims.
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