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Discover the Top 8 Entertaining and Lesser-Known Facts About Cyrus the Great

illustration of cyrus-the-great
Prepare to be amazed as you uncover the lesser-known, intriguing, and downright entertaining tidbits about the incredible life and achievements of Cyrus the Great!

1. Papa Cyrus: Ruler of Daycare Empire

Though it's tempting to believe that Cyrus the Great's parenting skills were so legendary that his subjects casually called him "Papa Cyrus," ruler of the world's first daycare empire: The truth is, Cyrus was revered as "The Great" and "King of Kings," ruling over vast territories and forging the first world empire from the Mediterranean to Asia Minor.
Source => cais-soas.com

2. Pawlitics: Dogs Treated Like Royalty

Did Cyrus the Great have a case of "pawlitics"? He was known for barking orders both on and off the battlefield: In ancient Persia, this mighty conqueror treated his beloved pet dogs like royalty, taking them on military campaigns, ensuring they were fed before battles, and even allowing them a seat at his side during crucial meetings and ceremonies.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

3. Original Yard-Crasher: Ancient Paradise Garden

Before there were gardening tutorials on YouTube and landscape design reality shows, there was a man named Cyrus who had serious game in the original "yard-crasher" league: Cyrus the Great's Pasargadae garden was the oldest Persian garden, boasting a geometrical design, stone watercourses, and cypress, pomegranate, and cherry trees. This paradise garden later inspired Islamic culture, spreading throughout the Muslim-conquered world and evolving into increasingly elaborate creations.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Cyrus' Freedom Fries: Influencing the U.S. Constitution

Cyrus the Great: a not-so-stuffy ancient ruler who could have schooled Uncle Sam in "freedom fries" long before they were a twinkle in America's eye: His policy of respecting freedom of religion, customs, language, and traditions wowed the Founding Fathers, leading to Thomas Jefferson recommending Xenophon's Cyropaedia as bedtime reading and influencing the one and only U.S. Constitution.
Source => cyrusthemovie.com

Return to Homeland: Cyrus' Exile Policy

5. Return to Homeland: Cyrus' Exile Policy

Before there was a "return to sender" for unwanted mail, Cyrus the Great had a "return to homeland" policy for exiled folks: He famously allowed the captured Jews in Babylon to return and rebuild their temple in Jerusalem, an act still commemorated during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Magical King of Religious Tolerance

Just as Dumbledore used to say, "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times", Cyrus the Great knew a thing or two about keeping his magical empire grooving to the tunes of free faith: This legendary Persian leader not only allowed various minority religions to practice without restrictions, but also funded the rebuilding of temples for different faiths and inspired successors to follow suit, making him the supreme magical king of religious tolerance.
Source => courses.lumenlearning.com

7. True Miley Cyrus in Captivity: Conquering Babylon

In an ancient game of "Pick a Friend, Win a Prize", Cyrus the Great nailed it by scoring all the benefits of being dubbed the "one true Miley Cyrus in captivity": Cyrus's conquest of Babylon not only expanded his already-impressive kingdom but also ended the Jewish exile and allowed them to return to their homeland, securing his legacy as a cherished hero in Jewish history.
Source => octavianreport.com

8. Alexander the Great: Tomb Repairman

When Alexander the Great walked into a bar, he ordered a round of "restoration" to go: The mighty conqueror, upon taking over Persia, made sure that the Tomb of Cyrus the Great was repaired and restored, showcasing his profound respect for the legendary Persian king—even though damage to the tomb happened during his own campaign invasion.
Source => travelartin.com

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