Cyrus Cylinder © Smithsonian Institution
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An ancient artifact of historic significance is about to be displayed in America for the first time. The Cyrus Cylinder is the oldest declaration of human rights known to exist in the world, and the principles contained within it have inspired many, including Alexander the Great and Thomas Jefferson.
The Smithsonian’s Sackler Gallery in Washington DC will be the first to display the Cyrus Cylinder, where it will be on view from March 9th to April 28th. Afterward it will make stops in Houston, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The cylinder normally resides in the British Museum. On a previous tour it attracted over a million visitors during its stop in Iran.
The Cyrus Cylinder is about the size of a football and is made of clay inscribed with cuneiform script that details the rights bestowed on the peoples of defeated nations by conquering Persian ruler Cyrus.
Learn more about the exhibit at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery