King Cyrus, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire in biblical data

Abstract

Abstract

Cyrus is considered a prominent man in human history as the founder of the Persian Empire. The exact boundaries of his conquests are not known, but his empires extended from India in the east to the Aegean Sea in the west. These lands had a measure of political independence as they were ruled by local rulers who assumed full responsibility for the administration, legislation and cultural activities of each province.

Not much known about Cyrus' personal beliefs, but the Greek historian Xenophon informed us that in the matter of religious matters he followed the instructions of the Magi in his court, although this was not agreed upon by the Historians, some of them see that he is a Zoroastrian and that he therefore followed his predecessors with a reference to the altars of fire and the shrine in Pasargadae which are indicative of Zoroastrian practices.

The Cyrus Cylinder, discovered at the site of Babylon in 1878 CE, is considered the first universal declaration of human rights, engraved in Akkadian cuneiform script. It includes a detailed account of the invasion of Babylon in 539 BC and his humane treatment of his subjects, through which it was widely known that he allowed the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the God.