The Cyrus Cylinder
The First Charter of The Rights of Nations
and
The First Declaration of Human Rights
Written by Cyrus II The Great

L. Eagle Banner of Cyrus The Great, Official Standard Banner of The Persian Achaemenid Empire (559 BC)
R. The Cyrus Cylinder

Introduction

In the name of Iran,

Inscribed on a clay cylinder in cuneiform discovered in 1879 by Hormoz Rasam in Babylon and now in The British Museum.

Cyrus II The Great
Head of The Achaemenid Dynasty and Starter of The Persian Empire

The Starting Piece of Cylinder:

{... When my soldiers in great numbers peacefully entered Babylon... I did not allow anyone to terrorize the people ...

I kept in view, the needs of people and all their sanctuaries to promote their well-being ... I freed all slaves ...

I put an end to their misfortunes and slavery (referred to 42,000 Jews and other religious minorities).}

Cyrus rest in peace, thus we are awake …

… and the legend goes on …

Tomb of Cyrus The Great, Father of Persian Empire at Pasargad
A Modest Tomb for a Great Man!
This was Cyrus' way of life: Simple Life, Great Actions ……

Before there were,

Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776 AD)
U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776 AD)
French Declaration of The rights of Man and Citizen (1782 AD)
U.S. Bill of Rights (1789 AD)
League of Nations (1920 - 1946)
United Nation (1945 - Present)

there was,

The First Declaration of Human Rights in the world by Cyrus The Great
The first declaration of the rights of the nations.
Inscribed on a clay cylinder in cuneiform with these specifications:

Cyrus Cylinder
Discovery Place: Neynava, Iraq
Discovery Date: 1879 AD
Discoverer: Hormoz Rasam
Current Location: British Museum
Date Cylinder was written: 538 BC
Cyrus Lived: 576 BC - 530 BC
Cyrus Ruled Persian Empire: 559 BC - 530 BC
Cylinder Type: Clay
Original Language: Akadian (Later translated to Persian)
Size: 23 Centimeter long by 11 Centimeter wide
Length: 40 plus lines of writings (broken in some areas)

L. Gold Portrait of Cyrus
R. Blue Portrait of Cyrus

"Cyrus king of kings, king of Achaemenids, King of Persia, Emperor of Persian Empire, Shahanshah of Pars, head of Achaemenid Dynasty, Starter of Persian Empire, Cyrus The Great"

Cyrus and his Immortals
L. Immortal Guard Spearman
C. Cyrus The Great
R. Immortal Guard Archer

... and Cyrus took over Babylon and added it to The Persian Empire which was extended East to West, from the Chinese border at East Asia to Greece and Macedonia in Europe, and North to South from North of Caspian Sea (central Russia) to central Napata (Libya) in North Africa.

Cyrus freed 42,000 Jews whom were enslaved at Babylon; this has been mentioned in Torah and Bible. Cyrus The Great, Persian Emperor, is the patron Saint of The Jews!

....... Cyrus, King of Kings, King of Persia, King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akad, King of Elam and Anshan, King of ......., King of all nations of the four quarters, have dictated a new world order, for the man to be free, for the man to live as he pleases and be protected by The Law, all men to have rights, all men to have dignity, all men to freely choose their religion, respect to all's religion, respect to all's tradition, respect to all's property, respect to all's humanity......

...... by the will of Ahura Mazda, all Satrap (Governors), subordinates and subjects of the Empire, nations of the four quarters, shall respect the traditions, celebrations and various gods and religions of The Persian Empire. We shall not rule by force and oppress no nation. Each is free to accept or reject, we shall bestow internal autonomy to all Khashtara (states) and not to oppress any region in to submission ...... may Ahura Mazda aid and guide us ......

The first "Human Right Document"
Ever in The World
538 B.C.

Cyrus The Great at Battle of Arkhozia

Achaemenid Spike Font Version of Cyrus Cylinder

Cyrus Cylinder
Modern Persian Font

For more elaboration on the geographical points and concepts of the Achaemenid Empire, please view below web pages:

Maps of Persian Achaemenid Empire (559 BC - 330 BC), Part One

Maps of Persian Achaemenid Empire (559 BC - 330 BC), Part Two

Once upon a time after the Babylonian Conquest, Cyrus issued a decree on his aims and policies, which later hailed as the first Charter of Human Rights of The Nations. This document was part of the doctrine, which Cyrus sought to put into practice with a wide view for bringing peace to mankind.

There has been many translations by many different sources, yet the following is an accurate to the detailed translation of the cuneiform script written on the original Cyrus Cylinder. Through the time, some parts of the cylinder have been destroyed but the principal message of Cyrus' Declaration is very clear. The Cyrus Cylinder is a representation of a way of life that Cyrus The Great had lived, it is a representation of how once The Persians lived, The essence of Good Persian-hood and the way Persians celebrated The Human Rights.

Shahanshah Aryamehr salutes the Tomb of Cyrus The Great at Pasargad, during 2500 Years Celebrations of The Persian Empire held in Persepolis and Pasargad near Shiraz, Iran at 1971

Alahazrat Homayoun, Bozorg Artesh Daran, Nur-e Ariyai, Shah-e Iran Zamin, Pedar-e Tajdar, Shahanshah Aryamehr, Pahlavi II, Mohamad Reza Shah Pahlavi, underneath all the titles, was basically a simple Nationalist!
Shahanshah Aryamehr reads a tribute piece and salutes Cyrus The Great in front of his tomb at Pasargad on 1971.
Shahanshah Aryamehr: "Cyrus king of kings, king of Achaemenids, King of Persia, Emperor of Persian Empire, Shahanshah of Pars, head of Achaemenid Dynasty, Starter of Persian Empire, Cyrus The Great …… Cyrus, rest in peace, thus we are awake ……"
L. Immortal Officer
C. Shahanshah Aryamehr
R. Immortal Officer

Discovered in 1879 by Hormoz Rasam in Babylon and now in The British Museum, please observe this valuable document. Below is the most accurate and detailed translation of the text.

Sincerely,

Dr. X

* * *

Cyrus Cylinder
The Official Text

Cyrus Cylinder
First Declaration of Human Rights and the first charter of the rights of nations in the World

I am Cyrus, King of the globe, great king, mighty king, King of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akad, King of ......, king of the four quarters of Earth, son of Cambysis (Kambujiye), great king, king of Anshan, grandson of Cyrus (Kurosh), great king, king of Anshan, descendant of Teispes (Chaish Pish), great king, king of Anshan, progeny of an unending royal line, whose rule, The Gods, Bel and Nabu cherish, whose kingship they desire for their hearts' and pleasures.

When I well disposed, entered Babylon, I had established the seat of government in the royal palace of the ruler, amidst jubilation and rejoicing. Marduk the great god, induced the magnanimous inhabitants of Babylon to love me, and I sought daily to worship him .......

...... when my numerous soldiers in great numbers peacefully entered Babylon and moved about undisturbed in the midst of the Babylon, I did not allow anyone to terrorize the people of the lands of Sumer and Akad and ...... I kept in view, the needs of the people and all their sanctuaries to promote their well being. I strove for peace in Babylon and in all his other sacred cities. As to the inhabitants of Babylon who against the will of the gods were enslaved, I abolished the corvee which was against their social standing, I freed all slaves. I brought relief to their dilapidated housing, putting thus an end to their misfortunes and slavery ......

...... Marduk, the great lord, was well pleased with my deeds, rejoiced and to me, Cyrus, the king who worshipped him, and to Cambysis, my son, the offspring of my loins, and to all my troops he graciously gave his blessing, and in good sprit, before him we stood peacefully and praised him joyously.

All the kings who sat in throne rooms, throughout the four quarters, from the Upper Sea (Mediterranean Sea) to the Lower Sea (Persian Gulf), those who dwelt in ...... and all those who live in other types of buildings as well as all the kings of the West Land, who dwelt in tents, brought me their heavy tribute and kissed my feet in The Babylon. As to the region, from ...... to the cities of Ashur, Susa (Shush), Agade and Eshnuna, the cities of Zamban, Me-Turnu, Der as far as the region of the land of Gutium, the holy cities beyond the Tigris River, whose sanctuaries had been in ruins over a long period, the gods whose abode is in the midst of them, I returned to their places and housed them in lasting abodes.

I also gathered all their former inhabitants and returned to them their habitations. Furthermore, I resettled upon the command of Marduk, the great lord, all the gods of Sumer and Akad whom Nabonid had brought into Babylon to the anger of the lord of the gods, unharmed, in their former chapels, the places which makes them happy.

May all the gods whom I have placed within their sanctuaries and resettled in their sacred cities, address a daily prayer in my favor before Bel and Nabu, that my days may be long, and may they recommend me to him, to Marduk my lord, they may say: "May Cyrus the King, who worships thee, and Cambysis his son ...... all gods I settled in a peaceful place, I sacrificed ducks and doves, I endeavored to repair their dwelling places ...... "

* * *

Pasargad
A Modest Tomb for a Great Man!
Cyrus, man of simple life but great actions!
Cyrus, Father of The Persian Empire
Cyrus, rest in peace, thus we are awake ……