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Is the Cyrus Cylinder Really the First Declaration of Human Rights? - The Political Afterlife of the Cyrus Cylinder | Sleepy Facts About History
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A small clay cylinder buried beneath Babylon in 539 BCE is frequently displayed at the United Nations and celebrated as the world's first declaration of human rights. But the gap between what this ancient object actually says and what modern society calls it reveals a fascinating story about political needs and historical misinterpretation. This episode examines the true purpose of the Cyrus Cylinder, exploring how Persian king Cyrus the Great used a traditional Mesopotamian foundation…
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