Cyrus the Great’s Cylinder

This sanctuary on a lagoon is virtually the same as it was six hundred years ago, which adds to the fascinating character.

Cyrus the Great’s Cylinder

The Cyrus cylinder is regarded as the first human right charter in history. It is a document issued by the emperor Cyrus the Great of Persian inscribed in Babylonian (Akkadian) cuneiform on a clay cylinder.

Passages in the text, experes Cyrus’ respect for humanity, and as promoting a form of religious tolerance and freedom. There are three main premises in the decrees of the Cyrus cylinder: the political formulization of recial, linguistic, and religious equality, slaves and all deported peoples were to allowed to return to home; and all destroyed temples were to be restored.

The inscription was translated into all six official U.N. languages in 1971. A replica of the cylinder is kept at the United Nations headquarters in New York City in the second floor hallway, between the security Council and the Economis and Social Council chambers.