Category:Cyrus (subject)

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Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) was King of Persia, from 559 to his death in battle in 530 BCE.

• Persian Kings: ... -> (Nabonidus / Belshazzar) -> Cyrus the Great -> Cambyses II -> ...

Overview

Cyrus was the founder of the Achaemenid dynasty. His military victories put him in possession of the largest empire of the time.

In 539 Cyrus defeated the Babylonian king Nabonidus (and his son Belshazzar), conquered Babylon and took over the existing administrative structures of the Babylonian Empire. He allowed the hostage kings (and gods) to return to their lands as vassals.

In 530 BCE Cyrus died in battle and was succeeded by his son Cambyses II.

Cyrus and the Jews

By conquering Babylon, Cyrus became in 539 BCE the ruler of Judah.

As he did with the other hostage kings in Babylon, Cyrus gave to the Davidic king Sheshbazzar, son of Jehoiachin, permission to return to Jerusalem and restore the Temple. For this action, Cyrus was highly praised by Jewish authors. His decree was presented as a special privilege granted to the Jews and its most embarrassing implications were carefully disguised. With great enthusiasm, the Book of Isaiah in particular spoke of Cyrus as a messiah sent by God to free the people of Israel from the Babylonian exile.

Cyrus in ancient sources

• Cyrus (sources) -- survey of ancient sources

Cyrus in literature & the arts

• Cyrus (arts) -- survey of fictional works

Related categories

• Persian Kings / Babylonian Kings
• High Priests / Zadokites
• Davidic Kings / Sheshbazzar

References

• Cyrus the Great / Steven J. Schweitzer / In: The Eerdmans Dictionary of Early Judaism (2010 Collins / Harlow), edited volume, 504-506

• Cyrus / T. Cuyler Young / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary, 1:1231-1232

External links

• Wikipedia