The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia by John Curtis

The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia by John Curtis

The Cyrus Cylinder is one of the most famous objects to have survived from the ancient world. Inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform on the orders of the Persian King Cyrus the Great (559−530BC) after he captured Babylon, it is often referred to as the first bill of human rights, as it appears to permit freedom of worship throughout the Persian Empire and to allow deported people to return to their homelands. It is a valued object by people all around the world as a symbol of tolerance and respect for different peoples and different faiths, which is why a copy of the cylinder is on display in the United Nations building in New York. This lavishly illustrated catalogue is published to complement the first ever tour of the object to the United States, along with sixteen other objects from the British Museum’s world-famous collection. Including a new authoritative translation of the Cyrus Cylinder by Irving Finkel, The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia offers a fascinating introduction into a period of great social and political change in the Ancient Near East.. ‘You could almost say that the Cyrus Cylinder is a history of the Middle East in one object and it is a link to a past which we all share and to a key moment in history that has shaped the world around us.’ - Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum

Neil MacGregor has taken a unique route to international acclaim. He arranged an exhibit at the British Museum that attempted to convey the story of humanity via the stories of one hundred man-made, used, worshipped, or discarded objects. The exhibition and associated BBC radio series set new broadcasting records, and MacGregor's book became a best-seller on both sides of the Atlantic. Shakespeare's Restless World is also his work.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780714111872
ISBN 10	0714111872
Title	The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia
Author	John Curtis
Condition	Unavailable
Publisher	British Museum Press
Year published	2013-07-15
Number of pages	144
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable