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“I am Cyrus, king of the universe,” said Cyrus the Great, the Persian king. Cyrus the

Great was a liberator. He treated everyone equally, regardless of their religion, ethnic

background or beliefs, as long as they didn’t revolt and they paid their taxes. Cyrus the Great

was the king of Pars or Persis, until he took control over his grandfather's empire. Cyrus the

Great was able to expand his empire and still be successful. Cyrus had an exceptionally

interesting life. Throughout Cyrus’s life, he achieved many accomplishments. All of these

accomplishments influenced and created his modern-day legacy.

Cyrus the Great was born sometime around 590 – 580 BCE. There is a legend

about Cyrus’s childhood and early life. The legend was told by Herodotus, a Greek philosopher,

known as “the Father of History”, according to Encyclopedia.com. Herodotus would record

people's lives such as Cyrus the Great and others. The legend explains that Astyages had a

dream, in which Cyrus took over the throne. Astyages was scared and didn’t want the throne to

go to Cyrus. So, Astyages left Cyrus to die on a mountain top. Astyages was the king of the

Median Empire, as well as Cyrus’s grandfather. Although Cyrus was supposed to die, he

survived and was taken in and raised by herders. Then when Cyrus the Great was ten years old,

Astyages found out that Cyrus was still alive and allowed Cyrus to return to his parents.

Cyrus the Great, also had a father and a mother. Cyrus the Great’s father was

Cambyses and his mother was Mandane, the daughter of Astyages. Once Cyrus reached

adulthood, he married a woman named Cassandane and had multiple children. He had a son

named Cambyses II and another named Bardiya, who claimed to be his son. Along with Cyrus’s

sons, he also had a daughter named Atossa and most likely two other daughters. As an adult,

Cyrus overthrew his own grandfather, Astyages, and began increasing the size of his empire.
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Cyrus the Great grew up in an Assyrian civilization. In Assyria, the government

was ruled by kings and nobles who made the laws, lead armies, and demonstrated how to honor

and respect the gods. In each city-state, there was a king and the city had its own assembly.

Assyrians also practiced a polytheistic religion, in which the Assyrians honored multiple gods.

The king was also a mediator between the people and the gods. In order to please the gods, the

king would conquer nations, acquire wealth, and build the empire. In ancient Assyria, at the top

of the social hierarchy is the king. The king controlled the politics, the law, the taxes, and the

military. Second in command was the governors who also had some political control. Below the

governors, were the scribes who documented all the work and made the state records. Below the

scribes, were treasurers in charge of the finances and delegates in charge of foreign diplomacy.

Additionally, there were merchants, farmers, and at the bottom of the social hierarchy there were

the slaves or servants. Cyrus the Great created the first Persian empire and achieved many other

accomplishments.

Cyrus the Great is well known today for his many conquests. After becoming the

king of Pars or Persis, Cyrus the Great in around 550 BCE overthrew his grandfather and took

control of the Median Empire, creating the Achaemenid Empire. Subsequently, Cyrus conquered

the Lydian Empire in approximately 540 BCE and then the Neo-Babylonian Empire in about 539

BCE. All of these diverse and different cultures were hard to rule, but Cyrus the Great’s method

of ruling was very successful and effective.

Cyrus had a unique ruling system. Cyrus the Great's ruling system was highly

successful and left a huge legacy for today’s modern world. Cyrus the Great treated others

equally, as long as they didn’t revolt and they paid their taxes. Cyrus the Great also showed
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mercy to those he defeated. Cyrus's way of ruling was different than other rulers during that

time. Cyrus’s counterparts would standardize things like money, religion, and weights. For

instance, in the Achaemenid Empire, Cyrus the Great allowed people to practice their religion,

unlike other emperors which did not allow their people to freely exercise the religion of their

choice. Although this was a different method, it was very successful and helped Cyrus the

Great’s dynasty to last for more than 200 years. The Cyrus Cylinder explains how Cyrus the

Great had dramatic impression on the Babylonians.

According to BBC News, “In addition to the objects borrowed from the British

Museum, a copy of Cyropaedia, Xenophon's book on Cyrus, is on display at the exhibition in

Washington DC.” It goes on to say, “The book, a bilingual Greek and Latin version published in

Europe in 1767, is one of the two copies of Cyropaedia belonging to Thomas Jefferson that is

currently held at the Library of Congress.” Foremost, it says, “A contemporary of Socrates,

Xenophon wrote on how Cyrus ruled a diverse society based on tolerance.” Afterward, it says,

“The book became popular during the Enlightenment among political thinkers in Europe and

America, including those who drafted the U.S. Constitution in 1787.” This information shows

how the Cyropaedia, also known as The Education of Cyrus, left a legacy impacting Europe and

America to this day. According to Harvard “The Education of Cyrus or Cyropaedia (c. 365

BCE) is, in broad terms, a simple narrative; its parts are few and clearly demarcated, its

progression often predictable.”

Another achievement was the Cyrus Cylinder. The Cyrus Cylinder is a clay

cylinder with words inscribed in Akkadian cuneiform script. In the Cyrus Cylinder, it talks about

when Cyrus the Great defeated and conquered the Babylonians. Mac Gregor, the director of the
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British Muesum, said, “What the Cyrus Cylinder represents is the first recognition that if you’re

going to run a society with different languages and different beliefs, you cannot impose by force

on system.”
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In the Cyrus Cylinder, it says, “The lord through whose help all were rescued from death

and who saved them all from distress and hardship, they blessed him sweetly and praised his

name.” This quote talks about Cyrus, the lord, and how the people of Babylon were so rapturous

that Cyrus the Great saved them from their hardships. Their king would make them labor

nonstop and the people of Babylon were joyful when Cyrus the Great took control over Babylon

because Cyrus was merciful and would let the Babylonians practice their religion. Another quote

states, “I sought the safety of the city of Babylon and all its sanctuaries. As for the population of

Babylon […, w]ho as if without div[ine intention] had endured a yoke not decreed for them.”

Then goes on to say, “I returned them unharmed to their cells, in the sanctuaries that make them

happy. May all the gods that I returned to their sanctuaries,” These quotes show how Cyrus was

kind, merciful, and tolerant to his subjects. Foremost, in the Cyrus Cylinder, it mentions that they

kissed his feet and thanked him for liberating them from the control of their Babylonian king.

Cyrus the Great spared those who yielded to him. Additionally, Cyrus was merciful and tolerant

to those he defeated. Cyrus showed many acts of mercy. An example of his mercy was freeing

the captive Jews from the control of the Babylonian Empire.

The Cyrus Cylinder not only showed how Cyrus the Great was merciful and

tolerant to different cultures, traditions, and languages; it also demonstrated how Cyrus was able

to rule a diverse empire for a long period of time. His dynasty lasted for more than 200 years.
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According to BBC News, the Cyrus Cylinder was referred to by some scholars as the "first bill

on human rights.”

Cyrus the Great died in about 529 BCE. The way Cyrus the Great died is unknown.

However, some say he was killed in the capital city, while others believe he was killed by the

Massagete of Tomyris Army near the Laxartes River. Over the course of Cyrus the Great’s life,

he managed to conquer many places such as Medes, Lydia, and Babylon. Even after Cyrus the

Great died, his son, Cambyses II, received the throne and gained control over the Achaemenid

Empire. Cambyses II continued to expand his father’s empire and went on to conquer Egypt.

Now over 2500 years after the death of Cyrus the Great, his legacy still leaves on

indelible impact on today’s world. Examples of his legacy can be found within the political

systems and governments throughout the Middle East, Europe, and America. Cyrus the Great

created a successful empire and utilized ruling techniques that enabled him to be successful then,

and would likewise be equally successful today. Present day world leaders would be wise to read

the Cyrus Cylinder and study the example of one of the leaders in ancient history. By doing so

they can also have a successful government much like Cyrus the Great. According to the

National Geographic “He triumphed not just through conquest, but also by showing singular

tolerance and mercy to those he defeated.” Cyrus not only had an interesting life, but he also had

an interesting family, and was able to achieve many achievements that leave a legacy on the

modern-world.
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Work Cited:

1. Introduction, chs.harvard.edu/CHS/article/display/5121.introduction.

2. Frye, Richard N. “Cyrus the Great.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica,

Inc., 13 Nov. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Cyrus-the-Great.

3. “Ancient Mesopotamia for KidsGovernment.” The Unusual Government of Ancient

Mesopotamia - Mesopotamia for Kids, mesopotamia.mrdonn.org/government.html.

4. Study.com, Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/ancient-assyria-religion-death-

political-organization.html.

6. Simonin, Antoine. “The Cyrus Cylinder.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History

Encyclopedia, 13 Feb. 2020, www.ancient.eu/article/166/the-cyrus-cylinder/.

7. Nijssen, Daan. “Cyrus the Great.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History

Encyclopedia, 14 Feb. 2020, www.ancient.eu/Cyrus_the_Great/.

8. Tafreshi, Babak. “Cyrus the Great: History's Most Merciful Conqueror?” National

Geographic, 14 June 2019, www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/people/reference/cyrus-

the-great/.

9. “The Cyrus Cylinder.” British Museum,

research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?obj

ectId=327188&partId=1.