Sardis was captured after a short siege. Herodotus states that Cyrus brought Croesus forward to be placed on a pyre. The pyre had already been lit before Cyrus changed his mind and put out the flames. Ctesias and the lyric poet Bacchylides tell different stories. The Lydians initially rebelled, but tradition holds that the unrest was short-lived and that Cyrus ordered the inhabitants of Sardis to be treated well except for the leaders of the rebellion. Cyrus had previously asked the Ionians under Croesus’ yoke to join the Persian campaign. The Ionians refused and thus the new regime treated them harshly. A rebellion followed. The Medes Mazares and Harpagus were left to subdue the Greeks as Cyrus returned to the heartland of his empire. Herodotus 1.153.3–154 Herodotus 1.160–161, 168–169, 177 The conquest of Babylon and the treatment of the conquered peoples, including the liberation of the Jews 539 BC (Suggested timings: 2–3 hours) Herodotus states that Cyrus took Babylon using novel means. In Herodotus’ version of events, the Persians defeated the Babylonians in battle near Babylon, before besieging them. Cyrus drained the River Euphrates so that the Persians army could infiltrate the city. The Cyrus Cylinder states that the Babylonian god Marduk requested Cyrus become king because the Barbarian king Nabonidus was not respected the local deities and was treating his subjects badly. Cyrus placed great emphasis on the idea that he respected the Babylonian gods and their temples. After the conquest, Cyrus made great capital out of returning statues to their original temples. Anticipating a Persian invasion, Nabonidus had gathered the divine statues from around the region and brought them into Babylon for safekeeping. Cyrus also claimed that deported Assyrian peoples were to be allowed to return to their homelands. Herodotus 1.178, 1.190–1.191 Cyrus Cylinder Cyrus Cylinder Cyrus Cylinder 2 Chronicles 36.20 Ezra 1.1–11 Ezra 5.13–15, 6.3–5 The personalities and priorities of Cyrus as demonstrated in these events The treatment of other peoples / cultures
The Old Testament suggests Jews who had been deported to Babylon received similarly favourable treatment: they were allowed to return to Jerusalem and Cyrus supplied them with funding to rebuild the temple there. The construction of Pasargadae (Suggested timings: 1 hour) The scale and design of Cyrus’ buildings in Pasargadae should be analysed in some detail. The archaeological remains of the city and palace offer some clues as to the personality and priorities of Cyrus, and aspects of Persian culture Winged Guardian Genius Archaeological remains of Pasargadae Persian culture Personality and priorities of Cyrus Cyrus death and accession of Cambyses 530 BC (Suggested timings: 1 hour) Herodotus states that an arrogant Cyrus was killed attacking the Messagatae, a Scythian tribe. However, there are many other, very different accounts of Cyrus’ death in existence. It is tempting to speculate that Herodotus chose the version that best fitted his theme of men made arrogant through power risking all they had achieved in an attempt to conquer tough people from tough lands. Xenophon has Cyrus die of old age surrounded by friends and family. It seems that Cyrus did eventually end up in the tomb he prepared in Pasargadae. Cambyses succeeded Cyrus although, according to Xenophon and Ctesias, Cambyses’ brother was appointed satrap of some of the eastern provinces. Herodotus 1.201, 205–206, 208, Xenophon, Cyropaedia 8.7.5–12 Xenophon, Cyropaedia 8.7.11 Ctesias FGrH 688 F 9 Photius §8 The nature of the evidence for Cyrus’ death