Paper short abstract:

The subject of this paper is the processes of re-semantisation that turned the Cyrus Cylinder from an object linked to a foundation rite into a symbol of peace and tolerance.

Paper long abstract:

The Cyrus Cylinder, now on display at the British Museum, is one of the most famous artefacts of the ancient Near East. This clay cylinder was written to commemorate the restoration of the walls of Babylon by Cyrus II (559-530 BC) of Persia following the city's conquest in 539 BC. In the long Akkadian inscription, the Persian king manipulates some of the recurring topoi of Mesopotamian kingship, presenting himself as a pious ruler, restorer of temples and bringer of peace among the people. In the 1970s, the cylinder underwent extensive re-semantisation within the Pahlavi dynasty, which recognised it as the “first declaration of human rights." The cylinder thus became a symbol of peace and tolerance, achieving a symbolic force that triggered a veritable "Cyromania," often embodied in the reproduction of several replicas (one of which is housed in the United Nations headquarters).

Starting with an analysis of the inscription, this paper aims to reflect on the original meaning of the Akkadian text and its contemporary exegeses and interpretations. In addition, the presentation will examine the cylinder as an object endowed with a new agentivity, paying particular attention to the role of its musealisation and exhibition in different parts of the world.