A cylinder of an externally fired, two-stroke engine has at least two exhaust channels. At least the inflow openings of the exhaust channels are located or formed symmetrical in relation to a plane of symmetry containing a longitudinal center axis of the cylinder. The inflow openings of the exhaust channels lying above each other in the cylinder wall surface and spaced apart by wall webs lie distributed over a peripheral region of the cylinder wall surface which in relation to the longitudinal center axis corresponds to a central angle Z of 175°≦Z≦280°, preferably 180°≦Z≦265°.