Cyrus Cylinder facts for kids
The Cyrus Cylinder (also called the Cyrus Charter) is a very old clay object shaped like a cylinder. It is now broken into many pieces. It has writing on it in an ancient language called Akkadian. This writing talks about Cyrus the Great, a powerful king of ancient Persia. He ruled the Achaemenid Empire. The cylinder was made around 539 BC. It was found near the ruins of Babylon, in a place called Mesopotamia (which is now Iraq). This discovery happened in 1879. Today, you can see the Cyrus Cylinder at the British Museum in London.
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What is the Cyrus Cylinder?
The Cyrus Cylinder is a small, barrel-shaped object made from clay. It is about 23 centimeters (9 inches) long. It was created in ancient times, over 2,500 years ago. The writing on it is called cuneiform script. This was a way of writing used by many ancient civilizations.
Who was Cyrus the Great?
Cyrus the Great was a very important king. He founded the Achaemenid Empire, which was one of the largest empires in ancient history. It stretched from Eastern Europe to India. Cyrus was known for being a fair ruler. He allowed people to keep their own religions and customs.
What does the Cylinder say?
The writing on the Cyrus Cylinder talks about how King Cyrus captured the city of Babylon. It says that he restored peace and order to the city. It also mentions that he allowed people who had been forced to move to return to their homes. This included people from different lands and religions.
Why is it important?
Many people see the Cyrus Cylinder as a very early example of human rights. It shows that King Cyrus respected different cultures and beliefs. He did not force people to follow his own ways. This idea of respecting everyone's freedom was very unusual for ancient times. It is why the cylinder is still studied and admired today.
Discovery and Display
The Cyrus Cylinder was found during an excavation in 1879. An archaeologist named Hormuzd Rassam led the team that discovered it. They found it buried in the ruins of Babylon.
Where is it now?
After its discovery, the Cyrus Cylinder was taken to the British Museum in London. It has been there ever since. It is one of the museum's most famous objects. People from all over the world come to see it. It helps us understand more about ancient history and the ideas of fairness and freedom.
Images for kids
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Hormuzd Rassam in Mosul circa 1854. The Cyrus Cylinder was discovered during Rassam's excavations in Babylon in February–March 1879.
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Map of the site of Babylon in 1829. Hormuzd Rassam's diggers found the Cyrus Cylinder in the mound of Tell Amran-ibn-Ali (marked with an "E" at the centre of the map) under which lay the ruined Esagila temple.
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Sample detail image showing cuneiform script.
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The Cyrus Cylinder in Room 52 of the British Museum in London
See also
In Spanish: Cilindro de Ciro para niños
