In Our Time

Cyrus the Great

78 snips
Apr 10, 2025
Lindsay Allen, a Senior Lecturer in Ancient Greek and Near Eastern History, along with Professor Emerita Lynette Mitchell and researcher Mateen Arghandehpour, dive into the captivating life of Cyrus the Great. They discuss his remarkable conquests, including Babylon, and his legacy of tolerance and governance. The Cyrus Cylinder is debated as possibly the first human rights declaration. Ancient narratives and the portrayal of Cyrus in the Hebrew Bible reveal the complexities of his character, as both a conqueror and a benefactor.
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ANECDOTE

Cyrus's Origin Story

  • Herodotus tells a story of Cyrus being exposed as a baby because of a prophecy.
  • Cyrus was raised by a cowherd and eventually overthrew his grandfather, fulfilling the prophecy.
INSIGHT

Xenophon's Political Interpretation

  • Xenophon's Cyropaedia is a political text exploring ideal leadership, not a historical account.
  • It presents Cyrus as learning from his grandfather and promoting willing obedience through rewards.
INSIGHT

Geopolitics of Cyrus's Conquests

  • Cyrus's conquest of Lydia began after defeating the Medes, whose king was Croesus's brother-in-law.
  • Astyages was the Median king, defeated by Cyrus, prompting Croesus's attack.
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