Cyrus Cylinder

539 BCE · Babil, Mezopotamya · political

The text inscribed on a clay cylinder after the Persian King Cyrus the Great took Babylon in 539 BCE permits the exiles to return to their homelands and the repair of their temples.

Although it is frequently referred to as the "first declaration of human rights," historians regard it as a typical proclamation of a Mesopotamian king. Even so, it is an early and influential example of the rhetoric of tolerant rule.

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Frequently asked questions

What was Cyrus Cylinder?
The text inscribed on a clay cylinder after the Persian King Cyrus the Great took Babylon in 539 BCE permits the exiles to return to their homelands and the repair of their temples.
When did Cyrus Cylinder happen?
539 BCE
Where did Cyrus Cylinder take place?
Babil, Mezopotamya