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US forces should take a lesson from the Persian kings
Guardian UK ^ | 9-6-05 | Simon Tisdall

Posted on 09/06/2005 8:18:46 PM PDT by freedom44

Present-day US fears about an Iranian-dominated super-state embracing southern Iraq and the Gulf have a basis in historical fact, according to an exhibition charting the exploits of Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian empire, which opens at the British Museum on Friday.

Cyrus and his successors, Xerxes and Darius, created the world's first superpower in 550BC, ruling territories from central Asia and the Indus valley to Arabia and north Africa. But the Persian kings appear to have had better luck in Iraq than President George Bush has had.

Article continues When Persian forces overran Babylonia in 539BC, the inhabitants surrendered peacefully. According to contemporary accounts, Cyrus was greeted as a liberator because of his just policies - and tough attitude to terrorists.

"When I entered Babylon I did not allow anyone to terrorise the land," a text known as the Cyrus Cylinder quotes him as saying. "I strove for peace in Babylon and all other sacred cities. I put an end to the inhabitants' misfortune."

John Curtis, the curator of the exhibition, Forgotten Empire: the World of Ancient Persia, said: "Cyrus was no despot, more an enlightened autocrat. He was surprisingly tolerant. He made no attempt to establish a state religion. He is said to have freed the Jews from captivity, allowing them to return to Jerusalem."

There are other historical echoes for modern-day empires to ponder. Even the poorest subject had the right to a royal audience, Mr Curtis said. The Persians developed an early form of federalism, governing through client rulers and provincial governors, known as satraps. Darius built a canal linking the Nile to the Red Sea - a forerunner of the Suez canal; introduced the first dollar-like global currency, the darik, and tax and communications systems; and created an empire-wide postal service whose "we always deliver" motto and emblem were supposedly imitated more than 2,000 years later by the US Mail and Pony Express.

Technologically, the Persian military machine was state of the art. Its elite troops were known as the Immortals, equivalent to US special forces. And pre-emptive wars and regime change were all in a day's work for the great kings.

The pre-Islamic Achaemenid dynasty was toppled by Alexander the Great, who burned the great palaces of Persepolis, some of whose surviving artefacts are on show for the first time at the British Museum. But its influence was long-lasting, Mr Curtis said. Christianity, Judaism and Islam were all influenced to a discernible extent by the original Zoroastrian concept, adopted by Mr Bush's "war on terror", of perpetual struggle between good and evil.

Despite the aspersions of Greek historians, the Persians' political, administrative, cultural and artistic legacy formed "a linear link" via the Greeks and Romans to subsequent European and north American civilisation, he added.

"It was very advanced, very sophisticated, progressive and tolerant, although not democratic," Mr Curtis said. "It was the largest empire at that time."

The organisers say the exhibition "challenges the myths that have portrayed the Persians as despotic and ruthless people" and aims to promote greater understanding of the Middle East, where modern Iran is seen, at least in the west, as a potential threat.

An Iranian diplomat admitted that Tehran's image, tarnished by anti-western ayatollahs, US hostility and nuclear tensions which may climax later this month, could be better.

"There is a lot of ignorance about Iran," the diplomat said. "We hope that the exhibition will give a different perspective."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: history; lessons; persia

1 posted on 09/06/2005 8:18:48 PM PDT by freedom44
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To: freedom44

Build large tombs?
Create a postal service?


2 posted on 09/06/2005 8:20:45 PM PDT by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: freedom44
There are other historical echoes for modern-day empires to ponder. Even the poorest subject had the right to a royal audience

Like Mother Sheehan?

3 posted on 09/06/2005 8:23:01 PM PDT by neodad (Rule Number 1: Be Armed)
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To: freedom44

The story isn't specific about what lessons the U.S. should learn from Cyrus and his successors. I do like the story about flaying an unsuccessful general alive, though. Or building the Second Temple in Jerusalem for the Jews. That's what they had in mind, right?


4 posted on 09/06/2005 8:26:03 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: freedom44; Cyrus the Great
Despite the aspersions of Greek historians, the Persians' political, administrative, cultural and artistic legacy formed "a linear link" via the Greeks and Romans to subsequent European and north American civilisation, he added. "It was very advanced, very sophisticated, progressive and tolerant, although not democratic," Mr Curtis said. "It was the largest empire at that time."

There was an Iranian freeper with the handle CyrusTheGreat who explained this some time ago on the forum. One of the reasons FR is a great resource. Well, the sad news The Govt of 2500 years ago was more tolerant and civilized than today's Iranian govt.

5 posted on 09/06/2005 8:26:11 PM PDT by WOSG (http://freedomstruth.blogspot.com/)
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To: freedom44
The trouble with this article is that they don't go quite far enough with the history! We had a modern day Zoroastrian in our shelter in Phoenix. He had fled modern day Iran due to the Islamists who were in charge.

The Zoroastrians are an oppressed minority in Iran. There is a cultural disconnect with the past.
6 posted on 09/06/2005 8:32:27 PM PDT by the_Watchman
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To: SunkenCiv

GGG


7 posted on 09/06/2005 8:36:17 PM PDT by freedom44
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To: freedom44
Just adding this to the GGG catalog, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

8 posted on 09/06/2005 10:21:36 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Down with Dhimmicrats! I last updated by FR profile on Sunday, August 14, 2005.)
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To: Billthedrill

Burning Athens?


9 posted on 09/06/2005 11:45:08 PM PDT by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: Doctor Stochastic
You're gonna hold that little Athens thing against ol' Xerxes, aren't you? He only burnt it because he was angry at finding it evacuated except for the old and sick and demented...

I know what you're thinking, and no, we can't burn New Orleans.

10 posted on 09/06/2005 11:54:38 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: freedom44

Cyrus the Great was indeed a good man. Someday, both the Iraqis and the Iranians will talk about Bush the Great.


11 posted on 09/07/2005 12:00:09 AM PDT by McGavin999 (Global Dumbing far more serious threat than Global Warming)
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To: Billthedrill
I know what you're thinking, and no, we can't burn New Orleans.

It's too wet.

12 posted on 09/07/2005 6:27:11 AM PDT by Doctor Stochastic (Vegetabilisch = chaotisch is der Charakter der Modernen. - Friedrich Schlegel)
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To: freedom44

Well I shall definately pop along to this fascinating sounding exhibition.


13 posted on 09/07/2005 6:31:28 AM PDT by Killing Time
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