'Cyrus Cylinder' Returning To Iran

June 18, 2008

By Admin

Tags: art, cyrus

Iran's National Museum is slated to exhibit "Cyrus the Great Cylinder", which is currently housed in the British Museum in London.

During a meeting at Iran's National Museum, the director of the British Museum said they were ready to display the cylinder in Iran. "The British Museum is ready to display the Cyrus Cylinder in Iran after 130 years," said Neil MacGregor.

Cyrus the Great's cylinder is a clay artifact, bearing a declaration issued by the Persian king Cyrus II in Babylonian cuneiform. Described as the world's first charter of human rights, the cylinder was discovered in 1879 by the Assyro-British archaeologist Hormuzd Rassam.

Source: Payvand

Comments (7)

Sima (about 2 years ago)

I agree with Amir,
Iran's Mollas will put this in their deep pocket and then they will tell us => Ooppss is lost

Bill (about 2 years ago)

This is a good example of the problem of deciding where artifacts belong. In addition to the problem some people have mentioned, that at present it probably isn't safe in Iran, how does one decide to whom it really belongs? Iran's claim is based on the fact that it was written by a Persian king. However, both the practice of leaving such a foundation document and the content of the text itself are Babylonian, not Persian, and the language and writing system are Babylonian, not Persian. It was both created and found in Babylon, which is now in Iraq. At the time that it was found, Babylon was part of the Ottoman Empire. So it would seem that it could equally well be claimed by Iraq or Turkey.

Armin (about 2 years ago)

I could live without it. The clay itself just has monitory value. The cylinder is really about what it represents and that cannot be stolen or taken away. Or so I hope. My point is, we all have its replicas at our home, so who cares about the real copy. My point is, i don't care where it is...

Shahnaz (about 2 years ago)

I have to agree with Amir and Armin too. Of course it belong to Iran....but the regime doesn't care for the Persian history. If anything they want to destroy any pride we have in our past. So it wouldn't surprise me if it just "accidentally" fell and broke while it was being transported to the museum lol The English will take better care of it that the aakhoonds.

Armin (about 2 years ago)

i totally agree with amir...this great cylinder belong to us...but i'm afraid that they return it to Iran's national museum and in it's way to Iran or at the museum someone steel it...or the Iran's Mollas regime destroy it...

Amir (about 2 years ago)

yes, it belongs to us but i am not sure if it is safer in Iran.

Khashayar (about 2 years ago)

They mean it was stolen in 1879, the Kurosh Cylinder is a great piece of our vast national heritage and and history...it belongs in Iran

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