Western Civilization I / Unit 3 WC1 0216 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Cyrus Cylinder: Two Claims to Kingship
Captions available
The idea
The Cyrus Cylinder, a clay record of Babylon's capture, grounds Persian kingship on two principles: descent from great kings, and the favor of the gods. Cyrus presents himself as Marduk's chosen, the Mesopotamian ensi under a new name.
In practice
Later kings put Ahura Mazda in Marduk's place.
Where people slip
The cylinder is a king's claim, propaganda in the neutral sense. Video 0233 reads it.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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