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Cyrus the Great is said in the Bible to have liberated the Jews from the Babylonian captivity to resettle and rebuild Jerusalem, earning him an honored place in Judaism.
Cyrus the Great (born 590–580 bce, Media, or Persis [now in Iran]—died c. 529, Asia) was a conqueror who founded the Achaemenian empire, centred on Persia and comprising the Near East from the Aegean Sea eastward to the Indus River.
- Richard N. Frye
- Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Achaemenian Empire. His empire, stretching from the Aegean Sea to the Indus River, was the largest that had...
- In Herodotus’s historically dubious account of Cyrus’s upbringing, Cyrus overthrows his grandfather Astyages and unites the latter’s Median kingdom...
- Cyrus’s career as a military leader began in earnest in 550 BCE, when he rose up against his Median overlord (and by some accounts, his grandfather...
- The Greek historian Herodotus provides the most famous account of Cyrus’s life in his History, a work that was probably as much fiction as it was f...
- Little is known about the last years of Cyrus’s life, and various contradicting stories of his death exist. It’s clear that he died while campaigni...
Jul 14, 2022 · Learn how Cyrus the Great transformed a small tribe into a superpower in less than 15 years. Explore his military campaigns, his merciful rule and his legacy in history and culture.
May 6, 2019 · Learn about Cyrus the Great, who expanded his empire by defeating the Medes, Lydians, and Babylonians, and who showed mercy and respect to his subjects. Discover how he freed the Jews from exile, allowed them to rebuild their temple, and inspired later leaders with his legacy.
- 4 min
- Kristin Baird Rattini
Learn how Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire and king of Persia, is venerated in the Tanakh as Cyrus the Messiah for liberating the Jews from Babylon. Explore the biblical and historical sources, the Cyrus Cylinder, and the controversies surrounding his decree for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Jul 14, 2020 · Learn about Cyrus the Great, the founder of the first Persian Empire, who conquered many nations and allowed the Jews to return to Israel. Explore his life, titles, legacy, and sources from history and the Bible.