A new beginning for the Middle East: The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia. Freedom, dignity, wealth – these three together constitute the greatest happiness of humanity. The Cyrus Cylinder, after 539 B.C.E., fired clay, 21.9 cm long (video from the British Museum) The Cyrus Cylinder is one of the most famous objects to have survived from the ancient world. The text on the Cylinder praises Cyrus for his peaceful and just rule, and due to these precepts, this historical object has been claimed to be an early version of ‘charter of human right.’. The Cyrus Cylinder is an ancient clay cylinder, from the 6th century BC, on which is written a declaration in cuneiform script in the name of Persia’s King Cyrus the Great. It records the words of King Cyrus, a Persian ruler who reigned during the 6th century BC. The Cyrus Cylinder. It describes the king’s capture of Babylon in 539 BC and how he restored temples in major cities and returned deported people to their homes. The text states that Cyrus was welcomed by the people of Babylon as their new ruler and entered the city in peace. It was inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform on the orders of Persian King Cyrus the Great (559 … We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The Cyrus Cylinder was found in Babylon, modern Iraq, in 1879 during an excavation led by the British Museum. The text encourages the freedom of worship throughout the Persian Empire, and allowed deported people to return to their homelands. Too much talking suggests desperation on the part of the leader. Athanadoros, Hagesandros, and Polydoros of Rhodes, Petra: The rose red city of the Nabataeans, Temple of Minerva and the sculpture of Apollo (Veii), City of Rome overview—origins to the archaic period, Roman funeral rituals and social status: The Amiternum tomb and the tomb of the Haterii, An introduction to ancient Roman architecture, The archaeological context of the Roman Forum (Forum Romanum), Seizure of Looted Antiquities Illuminates What Museums Want Hidden, Looting, collecting, and exhibiting: the Bubon bronzes, The rediscovery of Pompeii and the other cities of Vesuvius, Tomb of the Scipios and the sarcophagus of Scipio Barbatus, Bronze head from a statue of the Emperor Hadrian, Rome's layered history — the Castel Sant'Angelo, The Severan Tondo: Damnatio memoriae in ancient Rome. Often referred to as the first bill of human rights, the Cyrus Cylinder is one of the most famous artefacts from the ancient world. Believe then that it is still the same, even though you see it not.”, “All men have their frailties, and whoever looks for a friend without imperfections will never find what he seeks.”, “You cannot be buried in obscurity: you are exposed upon a grand theater to the view of the world. A 24k gold-plated necklace based on the Cyrus Cylinder in the British Museum. We believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. If your actions are upright and benevolent, be assured they will augment your power and happiness.”, “Diversity in counsel, unity in command.” Speak shortly, decisively, and to the point–and couch your desires in such natural logic that no one can raise objections. “Whenever you can, act as a liberator. Biblical scholars have seen the Cylinder’s text as evidence of the repatriation of the Jewish people following their Babylonian captivity, a deed that the Book of Ezra attributes to Cyrus. It was discovered in modern Iraq in 1879 during a British Museum excavation and has been housed in the British Museum since. Receive news and offers from the British Museum, +44 (0)20 3073 4970 customerservices@britishmuseum.org. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. We believe that the brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background. Often referred to as the first bill of human rights, the Cyrus Cylinder is one of the most famous artefacts from the ancient world.

The Cyrus Cylinder is one of the most famous objects to have survived from the ancient world. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Inspired by the East: how the Islamic world influenced Western art, Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, Free UK standard delivery on orders over £100, Choose premium delivery at the checkout for 24 hour, tracked delivery, Charges are calculated depending on the weight (kg) and destination of your order. Originating from Babylon (modern Iraq) over 2,000 years ago, it is often referred to as the first bill of human rights. The Cylinder was discovered in the ruins of Babylon in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) in 1879. – Cyrus the Great, Sponsor a Masterpiece with YOUR NAME CHOICE for $5. We created Smarthistory to provide students around the world with the highest-quality educational resources for art and cultural heritage—for free. Help Smarthistory continue to make a difference, Help make art history relevant and engaging, Ancient Near East: Cradle of civilization, Capital of a column from the audience hall of the palace of Darius I, Susa, Persepolis: The Audience Hall of Darius and Xerxes, Materials and techniques in ancient Egyptian art, Temple of Amun-Re and the Hypostyle Hall, Karnak, Paintings from the Tomb-chapel of Nebamun, Tutankhamun’s tomb (innermost coffin and death mask), Restoration versus conservation: the Palace at Knossos, Introduction to ancient Greek architecture, Ancient Greek vase production and the black-figure technique, Sophilos: a new direction in Greek pottery, Pediments from the Temple of Aphaia, Aegina, The Athenian Agora and the experiment in democracy, Egyptian blue on the Parthenon sculptures, Caryatid and Ionic Column from the Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike on the Athenian Acropolis, How an ancient Greek bronze ended up in the Vatican. The Cyrus Cylinder revered by people all around the world as a symbol of tolerance and respect for different peoples, different cultures and different faiths, is one of the most famous surviving icons from the ancient world. Exclusive to the British Museum, a gold-plated pendant necklace inspired by the Cyrus Cylinder. If you bequeath all three to your people, their love for you will never die.”, “May all the gods whom I settled in their sacred centers ask daily of Bêl and Nâbu that my days be long and may they intercede for my welfare. A beautiful gift inspired by ancient politics. Rethinking a modern attribution. Riches would be of little use to us now – except as a means of winning new friends.”, “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 Anšan, grandson of Cyrus, Great King, King of Anšan, descendant of Teispes, Great King, King of Anšan, of an eternal line of kingship, whose rule Bêl and Nabu love, whose kingship they desire for their hearts’ pleasure.”, “Brevity is the soul of command. Exclusive to the British Museum, a gold-plated pendant necklace inspired by the Cyrus Cylinder. Palmyra: the modern destruction of an ancient city. The building program followed the Persian conquest of Babylon in 539 BC when Cyrus invaded the Neo-Babylonian Empire and incorporated it into his Persian Empire.