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"In scope and extent his achievements ranked far above that of the Macedonian king, Alexander, who was to demolish the empire in the 320s but failed to provide any stable alternative."
- Charles Freeman (1999) "The Greek Achievement"
The achievements of Cyrus the Great throughout antiquity is well reflected in the way he is remembered today. His own nation, the Iranians, have regarded him as "the Father", the very title that had been used during the time of Cyrus himself.
"And those who were subject to him, he treated with esteem and regard, as if they were his own children, while his subjects themselves respected Cyrus as their 'Father"... What other man but 'Cyrus", after having overturned an empire, ever died with the title of 'The Father' from the people whom he had under his power? For it is plain fact that this is a name for one that bestows, rather than for one that takes away!"
-Xenophon
The rise of Persia under Cyrus's rule had a profound impact on the course of world history. Iranian philosophy, literature, and religion all played dominant roles in world events for the next millennium.
Cyrus the Great expands his empire and does a quite remarkable thing: he frees the Jews from Babylon. He forms the rightful title of unique king and liberator, by doing something no other ruler would ever do. Credits to www.PersianHub.com and www.history.com |
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His treatment of the Jews is mentioned in the bible:
"Thus saith Cyrus, king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth hath Yahweh, the God of heaven, given me; and He hath charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whosoever there is among you of all His people - may Yahweh, his God, be with him - let him go there."
- (2 Chronicles 36:23)
"I am an Iranian, a descendent of Cyrus the Great. This emperor proclaimed at the pinnacle of power 2,500 years ago that he 'would not reign over the people if they did not wish it.' He promised not to force any person to change his religion and faith and guaranteed freedom for all. The Charter of Cyrus the Great should be studied in the history of human rights."
- December 10, 2003 - in her acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian
Cyrus's legacy has been felt even as far away as colonial America. Many of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America sought inspiration from Cyrus the Great through famous books. Thomas Jefferson, for example, owned a copy of "Cyropaedia".
"If you are looking at the greatest personages in History who have affected the World, 'Cyrus the Great' is one of the few who deserves that epithet, the one who deserves to be called 'the Great'. The empire over which Cyrus ruled was the largest the Ancient World had ever seen and may to this day be the largest empire ever."
- Professor Patrick Hunt
One of the few surviving sources of information that can be dated directly to Cyrus is the Cyrus Cylinder, a document in the form of a clay cylinder. It is not just a clay cylinder, but something of immense historical importance. The United Nations has declared the relic to be an 'ancient declaration of human rights' since 1971. Source of top video: www.ted.com. Source of bottom video: www.cyrusthegreat.net. It is the historical history of human rights created by Cyrus the Great, and it is a huge part of our world today, as depicted in our Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Amendments. All sources of inspiration for those important documents were from Cyrus the Great, and the legacy he left behind will stay with us forever.
Credits to www.videosasd.com and www.history.com and www.cryusthegreat.net
Cyrus the Cylinder and the remarkable 2600 years of history in one object by Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum. www.ted.com |
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The study of Cyrus the Great and the establishment of his ethical Persian empire some 2,500 years ago is a good indication that in our time the concept of world order based on ethics, peace, and harmony among nations is not an impossible goal. In this century, the most fundamental ingredient of an evolution towards the goals are democracy, freedom of expression, choice, religion; cultural toleration, human rights, open trade policies, and open communications among people in this globe. The ethics of life are the pursuit of awareness for ourselves and others. To increase man's power is always ethical. However, only men who use power to expand awareness are ethical, which is exactly how Cyrus the Great demonstrated himself. The future of mankind and, consequently, of the ethical world is not only on earth, but beyond the stars. The earth is the first stage, yet only in the infinity of outer space can man have an infinite future.