Iran warns British Museum over Cyrus cylinder

Press TV ^ | Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:50:33 GMT | NAT/MTM/AKM

[Texas Fossil]

Tehran will cease cooperation with the British Museum in London until it loans the Cyrus the Great Cylinder to the National Museum of Iran.

The clay cylinder is inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform with an account by Cyrus II, king of Persia (559-530 BC). The Cyrus Cylinder is described as the world's first charter of human rights. .......

Iranian officials called on the British Museum to loan the country's ancient cylinder,.....

said Hamid Baqaei

“If the British Museum continues to make excuses for not loaning the artifact to the National Museum, we will, unfortunately, cease any cooperation with them, including archaeological expeditions and research,” he added.

[Grizzled Bear]

The popularity of Miley Cyrus surpasses all understanding.

This thing is 2500 years old! Disney's Marketing Executives managed to bypass the barriers of the time-space continuum!

[Texas Fossil]

I should have changed the title with (Cyrus the Great) as tag.

But even with that, some would have missed the significance of this idea. We are talking about the oldest written government promise.

—

Cyrus did the following for the kingdoms he ruled:

Abolished slavery.

Allowed total freedom of religion.

Freedom of immigration.

And promise of protection against invasion with the help of his other kingdoms.

—

Pretty forward thinking at at point 2,500 years ago. Not something to be scoffed at.

And it is substantiated by both the Bible and by Josephus’s writings.

[Professional Engineer]

ping

[happinesswithoutpeace]

/

[parisa]

I wouldn’t trust Iran for a moment....

Unfortunately even as an Iranian I don't trust them either. Cyrus The Great and this cylinder is a great symbol of honor and unity for Iranians and the mullahs' interest in them can only be ominous. For the mullahs the cylinder and the king means only one thing: THREAT, and they want to keep it under their control and under wraps. The mullahs are NOTHING but evil and what they want should never be appeased .....I wish the leftists would grow up and realize that.

[parisa]

It is so appreciated that some here speak from knowledge on the subject of Iran instead of reflexive attack and derision. Many Freepers who should know better still continue to convolute that truly exceptional country — in its own right and region — w/ the mullahs and islamists who rule it — even as Iranians should take part responsibility for what they did to their own country. (Carter and brzezinsky notwithstanding!)

[Texas Fossil]

I became interested in this issue during the Iranian Election. Found the only source of info was via twitter.

Would never have been interested in Twitter except for this.

Over the past months I have made many friends inside and outside of Iran.

The Iranians were the most westward leaning in the Middle East before the fall of the Shah. He was not perfect, but they were a reasonably free progressive country. With an old history of greatness.

I want nothing more than to see them once again a free and prosperous people.

In order for that to happen the current Despots must go.

[parisa]

I always say to all the Shah-deranged idiots, BOTH Iranian and most here in the west, that the Pahlavi era in Iran was truly the Golden years for that country but the usual suspects — leftists, communists, Marxists, media, and of course the fanatics who took them all for a ride w/ a major whopper of a helping hand from carter/brzezinsky — had demonized the Shah to such an extend that the spoiled Iranians truly felt entitled to their own Switzerland. Iran of course was not and is not Switzerland, but it was the best for the region, and today w/ hindsight looking at what was Iran before the Pahlavis and what became of it after them, all Iranians realize that Pahlavi Iran was its golden age.

[Texas Fossil]

all Iranians realize that Pahlavi Iran was its golden age.

Possibly, but my opinion is that Persia had several "golden ages". And at least one long "dark age".

I will never be a fan of a Monarchy, no matter how well intentioned. But I also understand that only a "moral" people are capable of self government. And an informed people to survive as a nation. Hence many nations of "free people" are destroyed.

[Atom Smasher]

For the mullahs the cylinder and the king means only one thing: THREAT, and they want to keep it under their control and under wraps.

##########

Yes. This is what I was referring to in my post #7...ulterior motives...

[Texas Fossil]

Here is a list of links that I found today related to this subject.

If you want to spend some time on it this is a good place to start.

I suspect you are Persian/Iranian and do not need this background, but others might find it interesting.

http://www.livius.org/ct-cz/cyrus_I/cyrus_cylinder.html

http://www.farsinet.com/cyrus/

http://www.spentaproductions.com/

http://www.iranpoliticsclub.net/history/cyrus-cylinder/index.htm

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/c/cyrus_cylinder_-_translation.aspx

[SunkenCiv]

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[afraidfortherepublic]

THanks for the ping. This is an interesting & informative thread.

[Grizzled Bear]

I should have changed the title with (Cyrus the Great) as tag.

It wouldn't have mattered. Some of us can't resist the urge to make poor jokes. Please don't let it bother you.

But even with that, some would have missed the significance of this idea. We are talking about the oldest written government promise.

That is pretty amazing. More so because Cyrus (if I'm not mistaken) kept his promise.

[Allegra]

Do you remember what the Taliban did to a statue of Buddah in Iraq?

In Afghanistan. :)

[AdmSmith]

The cylinder was discovered in 1879 by the Assyro-British archaeologist Hormuzd Rassam in the foundations of the Esagila, the main temple of Babylon, where it had been placed as a foundation deposit.

Esaglia is situated about 55 mi (89 km) south of Baghdad, near the modern city of Al-Ḥillah, Iraq. This means that if it would be any claim on it Iraq would be first in line, not Iran. However, it should stay in the British Museum.

[Allegra]

Esaglia is situated about 55 mi (89 km) south of Baghdad, near the modern city of Al-Ḥillah, Iraq. This means that if it would be any claim on it Iraq would be first in line, not Iran. However, it should stay in the British Museum.

I agree. A lot of old Babylonian and Mesopotamian artifacts are in the British Museum at present and they are certainly safer there.

I do believe, however, that the Brits are going to have to return the Elgin Marbles back to Athens for a new museum being built at the Acropolis, if I'm remembering correctly.

[tlb]

>>>The Jews, throughout recorded history, looked to Cyrus’ people, the Iranians, as their friends and protectors against oppressors such as the Seleucids and the Romans.

Most recently when the Ayatollah and Saddam fought their 8 year long war, Israel ignored international restrictions to sell weapons to Iran. All the Russian tanks captured in the Six day and the Yom Kippur wars were transferred to the Iranians, enough to equip a full armored division plus one or two brigades of T72s. Also spare parts to keep the F4 Phantoms flying, and even army uniforms.

Without that additional firepower, the chances were much greater Saddam would have owned half the world’s oil reserves.

[odds]

The cylinder was discovered in 1879 by the Assyro-British archaeologist Hormuzd Rassam in the foundations of the Esagila, the main temple of Babylon, where it had been placed as a foundation deposit.

It really doesn’t matter that the cylinder was discovered (1879 i.e. 19th century) by the modern day “Assyro-British archaeologist” >> “Hormuzd Rassam”, interesting "first" name at least. Btw, what do you think "Hormuzd" means & originates from?

Esaglia is situated about 55 mi (89 km) south of Baghdad, near the modern city of Al-Ḥillah, Iraq. This means that if it would be any claim on it Iraq would be first in line, not Iran. However, it should stay in the British Museum.

Yep. "Esgalia" is situated where you mention, way way before a more “modern day” city called: Baghdad.

Details of Cyrus the Great cylinder & his actual words (land of Sumer and Akkad): http://www.derafsh-kaviyani.com/english/kourosh1.php

Esaglia was also very much part of "Ctesiphon": the imperial capital of the Arsacids, and, particularly, of the Sassanids, (Persian/Iranian Dynasties - post Cyrus the Great) - one of the great cities of ancient Mesopotamian (inclusive of today’s country called Iraq), right up to Arab-Muslim invasion of Iran in the 7th century A.D.

Any way, if one needs to be pedantic and historically correct, the Persian Empire during Cyrus the Great covered “Persia” and “Media” i.e. modern day Iraq & Iranian-Kurdistan (Kurds: many are ethnic & linguistic cousins of the Persians, who are not Mesopotamians nor Babylonians e.g. "Arab-Iraqis”), to “Babylonia and Judea”, etc…

Cyrus the Great was not an “Iraqi” (Mesopotamian or Babylonian), nor was his declaration of Human Rights cylinder – although, He respected other cultures, customs, and religions).

Now, I agree Cyrus the Great's Declaration of Human Right's Cylinder should stay in the British Museum for now, but not for reasons you have mentioned. But because Mullahs of Iran, who often have close relations with Shi’ite Mullahs & Shi'ite terrorist insurgents in Iraq, can Not be trusted.

[Texas Fossil]

You mentioned the Kurds.

They were particularly ill treated by Sadam, and are currently by the Iran Mullahs.

Just read this story today that turned my stomach:

http://www.hra-news.org/news/11612.aspx (Farsi)

28 year old Fassih YASAMANI, Mr. jasmine Aqaryry (”eloquent jasmine”), a Kurdish political prisoner, was hanged yesterday (Jan 4) in Iran. His was accused of political crimes and was hanged without “legal formalities” (trial?). His confession was obtained under torture.

Currently 17 political prisoners sentenced to death in Kurdistan, there is the following:

Zeinab Jalalian, Habib Latifi, Sherko educative, Farhad Vakili, Farzad Kamangar, Ali Heidarian, Hossein Khezri Khkndy Rashid, Mohammad Amin Agauch, Ahmad steel Khani, Seyed Semitic Hosseini, Seyed Jamal Mohammadi, Rostam Arkya, Mostafa Salimi, Anwar Rostami, Hasan Taly, Iraj Mohammadi

note- some of this is paraphrased from Farsi machine translation (rough) and English references I had.