Cyrus cylinder what does it say

The Story of Human Rights booklet. First Name. Last Name. Email Address. Sign me up for the United for Human Rights newsletter. Sign up for news and updates Thank you for subscribing. All Rights Reserved. It was excavated in several fragments. The cylinder was glued together straight away, and was read by Theophilus Pinches and Henry Rawlinson at the British Museum. It was deposited there after the capture of the city by Cyrus in BC, and presumably written on his orders.

The text is incomplete. It is written in Babylonian script and language and records that Nabonidus, the last King of Babylon BC , had perverted the cults of the Babylonian gods, including Marduk, the city-god of Babylon, and had imposed labour-service on its free population, who complained to the gods. The gods responded by deserting Babylon, but Marduk looked around for a champion to restore the old ways. He chose Cyrus, King of Anshan Persia , and declared him king of the world.

First Cyrus expanded his kingship over the tribes of Iran described as Gutians and Ummanmanda , ruling them justly. Then Marduk ordered Cyrus to march on Babylon, which he entered without a fight.

Nabonidus was delivered into his hands and the people of Babylon joyfully accepted the kingship of Cyrus. From this point on, the document is written as if Cyrus himself is speaking: 'I, Cyrus, king of the world He presents himself as a worshipper of Marduk who strove for peace in Babylon and abolished the labour-service of its population. The people of neighbouring countries brought tribute to Babylon, and Cyrus claims to have restored their temples and religious cults, and to have returned their previously deported gods and people.

The text ends with a note of additional food offerings in the temples of Babylon and an account of the rebuilding of Imgur-Enlil, the city wall of Babylon, during the course of which an earlier building inscription of Ashurbanipal, King of Assyria BC , was found. Authority Issuer: Cyrus the Great. Production date BC after. Production place Made in: Babylon Iraq. Materials fired clay. Technique wheel-made.

Dimensions Length: Clay cuneiform tablet fragment, BC, Achaemenid. The Cyrus Cylinder has a cross-cultural significance. People from different backgrounds, nationalities, and religions recognize it as relevant and important.