 |
Cyrus Cylinder,
The First Charter of Human Rights |
fter victory over Babylonia,
Cyrus The Great presented himself not as a
conqueror, but a liberator and the legitimate successor to the
crown. He took the title of "King of Babylon and King of the
Land". Cyrus had no thought of forcing conquered people into a
single mould, and had the wisdom to leave unchanged the
institution of each kingdom he attached to the Persian Crown. In
537 BC he allowed more than 40,000 Jews to leave Babylon and
return to Palestine.
He also declared the first Charter of Human Rights known to
mankind, which is written on a clay cylinder:
"I am Cyrus, king of the world, great
king, mighty king, king of Babylon, king of the land of
Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, son of Cambyses,
great king, king of Anshan, grandson of Cyrus, great king,
king of Anshan, descendant of Teispes, great king, king of
Anshan, progeny of an unending royal line, whose rule Bel
and Nabu cherish, whose kingship they desire for their
hearts' pleasures.
When I, well-disposed, entered Babylon, I established the
seat of government in the royal palace amidst jubilation and
rejoicing. Marduk, the great God, caused the big-hearted
inhabitants of Babylon to...me. I sought daily to worship
him. My numerous troops moved about undisturbed in the midst
of Babylon.
I did not allow any to terrorize the land of Sumer and
Akkad. I kept in view the needs of Babylon and all its
sanctuaries to promote their well-being. The citizens of
Babylon... I lifted their unbecoming yoke. Their dilapidated
dwellings I restored. I put an end to their misfortunes.
At my deeds Marduk, the great Lord, rejoiced, and to me,
Cyrus, the king who worshipped, and to Cambyses, my son, the
offspring of my loins, and to all my troops, he graciously
gave his blessing, and in good spirit is before him
we/glorified/exceedingly his high divinity.
All the kings who sat in the throne rooms, throughout the
four quarters, from the Upper to the Lower Sea, those who
dwelt in ... all the kings of the West Country who dwelt in
tents, brought me their heavy tribute and kissed my feet in
Babylon. From ... to the cities of Ashur and Susa, Agade,
Eshnuna, the cities of Zamban, Meurnu, Der, as far as the
region of the land of Gutium, the holy cities beyond the
Tigris whose sanctuaries had been in ruins over a long
period, the Gods whose abode is in the midst of them. I
returned to the places and housed them in lasting abodes. I
gathered together all their inhabitants and restored to them
their dwellings. The Gods of Sumer and Akkad whom Nabonidus
had, to the anger of the Lord of the Gods, brought into
Babylon, I at the bidding of Marduk, the great Lord made to
dwell in peace in their habitations, delightful abodes.
May all the gods whom I have placed within their sanctuaries
address a daily prayer in my favour before Bel and Nabu,
that my days may long, and may they say to Marduk my Lord,
May Cyrus the King who reveres thee, and Cambyses his son
..."
|
|
