Project Data:

Completion Date:     11/1/2020

Square Footage:      9

Building Use:           Eight feet High Bronze Sculpture

Project Description:

Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II of Persia); Old Persian: Kūruš; Kourosh; New Persian: کوروش Kuruš; commonly known as Cyrus the Great, and also called Cyrus the Elder by the Greeks, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian Empire (559-330 BC).

Under his leadership, the empire embraced all the previous civilized states of from the Mediterranean Sea and Hellespont in the west to the Indus River in the east, Cyrus the Great created the largest empire the world had yet seen.

He respected the customs and religions of the lands he conquered. This became a very successful model for centralized administration and establishing a government working to the advantage and profit of its subjects. In fact, the administration of the empire through satraps and the vital principle of forming a government at Pasargadae were the works of Cyrus.

Cyrus the Great is also well recognized for his achievements in human rights, politics, and military strategy, as well as his influence on both Eastern and Western civilizations. Having originated from Persia, roughly corresponding to the modern Iranian province of Fars, Cyrus has played a crucial role in defining the national identity of modern Iran. The Achaemenid influence in the ancient world eventually would extend as far as Athens, where upper-class Athenians adopted aspects of the culture of the ruling class of Achaemenid Persian as their own.

In the 1970s, The Great Shah of Iran M. R. Pahlavi identified his famous proclamation inscribed onto the Cyrus Cylinder as the oldest known declaration of human rights (6th Century B.C.), and the Cylinder has since been popularized as such. The original is kept at British museum and a copy at the United Nations.

Design for Integration 

Cyrus the Great is a fascinating figure in history, and his contributions to humanity are well documented, particularly through the writings of Xenophon. Xenophon, an ancient Greek historian, wrote "Cyropaedia," which is both a biography and a philosophical treatise about Cyrus's life and leadership.

Cyrus is often celebrated for his innovative approach to governance and his respect for the cultures and religions of the peoples he conquered. One of his most notable contributions was the establishment of the concept of a multi-ethnic united states or countries that respected local customs and laws. This is particularly evident in Xenophon’s portrayal of him as a ruler who sought to create a harmonious society by treating his subjects with dignity and fairness.

In "Cyropaedia," Xenophon describes Cyrus as a leader who understood the importance of virtue and education. He emphasized the role of moral character in leadership, suggesting that a good ruler must also be a good person. This idea has resonated throughout history, influencing political philosophy and the way leaders are viewed. Particularly Thomas Jefferson in composing the United States declaration of Independence. Thomas Jeferson's library which includes Cyropaedia is currently displayed at the US Library of Congress.

Moreover, Cyrus's founding of the Persian Empire laid the groundwork for future empires and introduced concepts such as human rights, exemplified by the Cyrus Cylinder. This ancient artifact is often regarded as one of the first declarations of human rights, promoting the idea of freedom for all people within his domain.

Overall, through Xenophon’s writings, we see Cyrus not just as a conqueror but as a visionary leader who contributed significantly to ideas of governance, tolerance, and respect for diversity—concepts that continue to be relevant in discussions about leadership and human dignity today.


This sculpture celebrated and unites two countries United States of America and Ancient Persia /Iran that share core cultural values of humanity and that is Honoring Truth, Human Dignity, and Freedom, closer even though 2500 years apart.

This sculpture has been dedicated to Humanity and in memory of the sculptor's grandparents.

Completion Date:     11/1/2020

Square Footage:      9

Building Use:           Eight feet High Bronze Sculpture

Location:                 Not determined at this time

Bahram Zarin-afsar architect/Sculptor

Prof. David Stronach
Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies
University of California, Berkeley

Prof. abbas Alizadeh
University of Chicago

Prof. Roshan Hubbard

Prof. Ali Akbar Jafarey

Prof. Fataneh Farid

Sina Araghi