This clay cylinder, inscribed with cuneiform script, records the conquest of Babylon in 539 B.C. by the Persian king Cyrus the Great, and bears witness to the multiethnic nature of the Achaemenid Empire, which introduced innovative forms of writing, religion, and luxury goods to the Near East. Since its discovery in 1879, the Cyrus Cylinder has inspired wide-ranging discussion about the benevolent nature of Cyrus's rule.
In taking Babylon, Cyrus brought what was recently the heart of a great kingdom into the growing Achaemenid Empire. Rather than imposing Persian practices on its peoples, however, he sought to uphold their traditions. This is evident from the Cyrus Cylinder itself. For one, the inscription was written in the local language, Babylonian. Moreover, by embedding this Cylinder in the foundations of Babylon, Cyrus was adhering to a standard practice in the region–intended to secure divine favor and record a ruler's achievements for posterity.
For centuries, the Persian king Cyrus the Great has enjoyed a remarkable reputation. Ancient Greek texts, particularly Xenophon'sCyropaedia, were greatly influential in presenting him as an ideal ruler, while the Old Testament celebrated him for allowing the Jews to return from exile and rebuild their temple. The discovery of the Cyrus Cylinder in 1879 provided support—in Cyrus's own words—for his legacy, and continues to attract new layers of significance.
