This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Aytakin (talk | contribs) at 02:11, 15 October 2005. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 02:11, 15 October 2005 by Aytakin (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Cyrus Cylinder is an artifact of the Persian Empire, consisting of a declaration inscribed on a clay barrel. Upon his taking of Babylon, Cyrus the Great issued the declaration, containing an account of his victories and merciful acts, as well as a documentation of his royal lineage. It was discovered in 1879 in Babylon, and today is kept in the British Museum. The Cyrus Cylinder is considered by many to be the first Declaration of Human Rights and also the foot works of the basis of the present UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The royal history given on the cylinder is as follows: The founder of the dynasty was King Achaemenes (ca. 700 BC) who was succeeded by his son Teispes of Anshan. Inscriptions indicate that when the latter died, two of his sons shared the throne as Cyrus I of Anshan and Ariaramnes of Persia. They were succeeded by their respective sons Cambyses I of Anshan and Arsames of Persia. Cambyses is considered by Herodotus and Ctesias to be of humble origin. But they also consider him as being married to Princess Mandane of Media (ماد), a daughter of Astyages, King of the Medes and Princess Aryenis of Lydia. Cyrus II was the result of this union.
 | This Middle Eastern history–related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |
 | This article relating to archaeology is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |