Cyrus the Great is famous for founding the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BCE, which is today considered to be the first Persian Empire. As well, he is remembered today for the creation of the Cyrus Cylinder, which is an important earlier text in relation to ancient history in the Middle East and the study of human rights. As such, historians consider Cyrus the Great to be a significant figure in ancient history, Mesopotamian history and the development of human rights.
CYRUS THE GREAT – EARLY LIFE
It is believed that Cyrus the Great was born sometime around 600 BCE in Anshan, Persia, which is located in modern Saudi Arabia. Cyrus the Great was the descendent of previous kings, including his father and grandfather. For instance, his grandfather, Cyrus I, ruled as the King of Anshan until 600 BCE. Next, Cyrus the Great’s father, Cambyses I, ruled as the King of Anshan until 559 BCE. Furthermore, Cyrus the Great, was actually Cyrus II, as he was named after his grandfather. Regardless, Cyrus the Great continued the tradition of his family and became the next ruler in the region. Cyrus the Great married an Achaemenian noblewoman named Cassandane. Together they had five children, including two sons and three daughters.
CYRUS THE GREAT – RISE TO POWER
As stated above, Cyrus the Great rose to power following the death of his father in 559 BCE. He quickly began to expand his influence throughout the region of the Middle East and conquered several different groups. For instance, he united the Achamenid kingdoms of Parsa and Anshan following his overthrow of the Median Kingdom in 550 BCE, which was a rival kingdom in the Middle East. Next, his forces conquered the Lydian Empire and Asia Minor around the time of 547 BCE. The Lydia Empire was situated in modern Turkey. Cyrus the Great’s forces captured the territory following a series of bloody battles, in which Cyrus’ armies conquered cities in the region. These newly conquered territories by Cyrus were combined into the Persian Empire. The next major advancement was Cyrus the Great’s capture of Babylon. In 540 BCE, Cyrus’ forces captured the Babylonian city of Susa. From there, they advanced north towards the city of Babylon. It is believed that Cyrus’ generals negotiated a takeover of Babylon with the Babylonian generals following a major battle, in which the Babylonian forces were defeated. As such, in 539 BCE, Cyrus’ forces entered Babylon and captured Nabonidus, the king of the Babylon Kingdom. Cyrus had him removed from power and Cyrus named himself the King of Babylon. It was also during this time that Cyrus had the Cyrus Cylinder created.
CYRUS THE GREAT – THE CYRUS CYLINDER
The Cyrus Cylinder is a clay cylinder that was first made in 539 BCE. It is approximately 9 inches (22.5 centimeters) long and 4 inches (10 centimeters) wide. The cylinder is covered on the outside with Akkadian cuneiform script, which was the main language used in the Mesopotamian region at the time. Ancient Mesopotamia was situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the Middle East, which today is the southern section of modern Iraq.
As a historical item, the Cyrus Cylinder has been interpreted in many different ways. First, some consider it be a vitally important example of ancient Mesopotamian traditions. For example, it was supposedly quite common for rulers in kingdoms from ancient Mesopotamia to make new declarations and reforms when they rose to power. In this way, the Cyrus Cylinder is very similar to earlier declarations that have been uncovered from the region. Second, some historians have highlighted the importance of the Cyrus Cylinder as providing an insight into the daily life of people in ancient Mesopotamia. For example, the Cyrus Cylinder provides key details about aspects of Mesopotamian religion, kings, and building projects. Finally, the Cyrus Cylinder is viewed by many to be a pivotal item in relation to the history of human rights. For instance, some have referred to the Cyrus Cylinder as one of the first ‘charter of rights’ in human history. In fact, the cylinder discusses the idea of religious freedom, equality rights and the banning of certain forms of persecution.
CYRUS THE GREAT – DEATH AND SIGNIFICANCE
Cyrus the Great died in 530 BCE following participation in a battle, although there are several different accounts of how he may have died. His remains are believed to be buried in Pasargadae, which was the capital city of the Achaemenid Empire. Historians have identified a large limestone tomb there, which matches descriptions of Cyrus’ tomb. In fact, the site is considered to be a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.
Today, Cyrus the Great is remembered as a significant figure in ancient history. In fact, he is a celebrated person in history, as many look to him for his amazing contributions to the people of the Middle East in the 6th Century. First and foremost, Cyrus the Great is remembered for the creation of the Cyrus Cylinder. As stated above, the Cyrus Cylinder was a clay cylinder that dates from approximately the 6th century BCE. Around its exterior is writing that explains declarations made by the Persian king Cyrus the Great. Some historians view the Cyrus Cylinder as an important milestone in the history of the development of human rights, as it was an early example of the government providing protections to certain groups. Next, Cyrus the Great is a celebrated figure in the Middle East and considered to be a foundational person in the history of the Persian Empire. For instance, modern Iranians look to Cyrus as an important figure in their own history.
