Cyrus the Great
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Cyrus the Great
He led the Persians in a successful revolt against their Median overlords. He then successfully attacked Lydia (in Asia Minor, that is, today's Turkey) and Babylonia (in Mesopotamia, a territory in today's Iraq).
His empire at the time of his death extended from Egypt to Turkey and across to parts of India.
Known by the Persians as "The Father" and by the Greeks as "The Law Giver", Cyrus the Great was renowned for his justice and respect for what we would call human rights. Through his Edict of Restoration, he allowed the Jews to return to their traditional homeland in Palestine.
In Search Of Cyrus The Great
Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great (Illustrated Edition) (Dodo Press)
Amazon Price: $10.52 (as of 05/31/2012)
Who was Cyrus the Great? The Persians regarded him as "The Father", the Babylonians as "The Liberator", the Hellenes as 'Law-Giver' and the Jews as 'The Anointed of the Lord'.
Cyrus the Great was the emperor who proclaimed at the pinnacle of his power 2,500 years ago that "he would not reign over the people if they did not wish it." And he promised not to force any person to change his religion and faith and guaranteed freedom for all.
The Charter of Cyrus the Great is one of the most important documents in the history of human rights.
I Am Cyrus
"I am Cyrus, king of the world, great king, mighty king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, the son of Cambyses, great king, king of Ansan, grandson of Cyrus, great king, king of Ansan, descendant of Teispes, great king, king of Ansan, of an eternal line of kingship, whose rule Bêl and Nabu love, whose kingship they desire fot their hearts' pleasure."
-- Cyrus the Great as quoted on the Cyrus cylinder (c. 538 B.C) (Source of translation: livius.org)
The Cylinder of Cyrus the Great - The First Declaration of Human Rights? (Photo: Marco Prins and Jona Lendering)
Cyropaedia, V, Books 1-4 (by Xenophon)
"The Education of Cyrus"
Xenophon, V, Cyropaedia: Books 1-4 (Loeb Classical Library) (Bks. 1-4)
Amazon Price: $21.58 (as of 05/30/2012)
About this book
Cyropaedia is a historical romance on the education of the Persian emperor, Cyrus the Great (or Cyrus the Elder) and reflects the author Xenophon's ideas about rulers and government.
About the author
Xenophon (ca. 430 to ca. 354 BCE) was a wealthy Athenian and friend of Socrates. He left Athens in 401 and joined an expedition including ten thousand Greeks led by the Persian governor Cyrus against the Persian king. After the defeat of Cyrus, it fell to Xenophon to lead the Greeks from the gates of Babylon back to the coast through inhospitable lands. Later he wrote the famous vivid account of this 'March Up-Country' (Anabasis); but meanwhile he entered service under the Spartans against the Persian king, married happily, and joined the staff of the Spartan king, Agesilaus. But Athens was at war with Sparta in 394 and so exiled Xenophon. The Spartans gave him an estate near Elis where he lived for years writing and hunting and educating his sons. Reconciled to Sparta, Athens restored Xenophon to honour but he preferred to retire to Corinth.
Xenophon's Anabasis is a true story of remarkable adventures. Hellenica, a history of Greek affairs from 411 to 362, begins as a continuation of Thucydides' account. There are four works on Socrates (collected in Volume IV of the Loeb Xenophon edition). In Memorabilia Xenophon adds to Plato's picture of Socrates from a different viewpoint. The Apology is an interesting complement to Plato's account of Socrates' defense at his trial. Xenophon's Symposium portrays a dinner party at which Socrates speaks of love; and Oeconomicus has him giving advice on household management and married life. Cyropaedia, a historical romance on the education of Cyrus (the Elder), reflects Xenophon's ideas about rulers and government; the Loeb edition is in two volumes.
We also have his Hiero, a dialogue on government; Agesilaus, in praise of that king; Constitution of Lacedaemon (on the Spartan system); Ways and Means (on the finances of Athens); Manual for a Cavalry Commander; a good manual of Horsemanship; and a lively Hunting with Hounds. The Constitution of the Athenians, though clearly not by Xenophon, is an interesting document on politics at Athens. These eight books are collected in the last of the seven volumes of the Loeb Classical Library edition of Xenophon.
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Religious Toleration
"I returned the images of the gods, who had resided there, to their places and I let them dwell in eternal abodes. I gathered all their inhabitants and returned to them their dwellings."
-- Cyrus the Great as quoted on the Cyrus cylinder (c. 538 B.C) (Source of translation: livius.org)
Interesting Resources on Cyrus the Great
- Cyrus the Great: the Father and Liberator
- The Iranians regarded him as "The Father"; Babylonian as "The Liberator", Hellenes as 'Law-Giver'; and the Jews as 'The Anointed of the Lord.
- Cyrus the Great - Great Persian Ruler and Liberator of Enslaved Peoples
- # Cyrus II of Persia (c. 600-529 BC), commonly known as Cyrus the Great, was one of the greatest kings of Persia. He was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, also known as the Persian Empire (c. 550-330 BC), which was the greatest empire known in the world up to that time. He is famous for his humane treatment of the countries conquered or ruled by him.
- Cyrus the Elder (Cyrus the Great), founder of the Persian Empire (559-529 BC)
- Interesting article on Cyrus the Great from 9th Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Cyrus the Great (article)
During his twenty nine to thirty year reign, Cyrus fought and conquered some of the greatest states of his time, including the Median Empire, the Lydian Empire, and the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Cyrus did not venture into Egypt, as he himself died in battle, fighting the Scythians along the Syr Darya in August 530 BC or 529BC. He was succeeded by his son, Cambyses II, who managed to conquer Egypt during his short rule.
Beyond his nation, Cyrus left a lasting legacy on Jewish religion (through his Edict of Restoration), human rights, politics, and military strategy, as well as on both Eastern and Western civilizations.
Source: Wapedia
Kindness to the Enslaved Jews
"I have given leave to as many of the Jews that dwell in my country as please to return to their own country, and to rebuild their city, and to build the temple of God at Jerusalem on the same place where it was before."
-- Cyrus the Great as quoted by Josephus Flavius
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