known that travel is more than mere diversion or entertainment. But can it lead
to historical and cultural discoveries, or even bridge bitter rifts?
9in-long oblong-shaped piece of clay, which began a nine-month US tour on 9 March, is
setting out to do just that.
Cylinder of Persia (modern-day Iran), on loan from London’s British Museum, is a historical symbol
of tolerance and freedom
that has long been described as the first declaration of human rights. It is
inscribed with Babylonian
cuneiform proclamations from King Cyrus, founder of the Achaemenid Empire (which
covered a huge swath of western Asia from 550 BC to 330 BC) and one of Ancient
Persia’s best-known leaders. The writings praise Cyrus, outline his peaceful
capture of Babylon (an ancient city thought to be located in modern day Iraq) and
describe the conquering king’s humane treatment of minorities in the city,
including the Jews.
permitted all to dwell in peace,” reads the final line of the cylinder.
ancient societies consider that one line to be evidence of religious
object is so important is because it’s probably the first time in human history
that we have evidence of a ruler thinking about how you manage a society with
people of different traditions, different languages, different ethnicities, and
above all, different religions,” explained
Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum.
remnant of the Persian Empire, the cylinder is a source of pride for Iranians around
the world. Its US tour hopes to introduce Americans – whose exposure to Iran is
largely limited to media coverage of nuclear talks, protests and angry
political rhetoric – to the peaceful, tolerant aspects of Iranian culture and
to help build bridges between the two countries.
Here’s where to see the Cyrus Cylinder on its five US stops: