Ancient artifact represents first bill of rights
A small clay cylinder with massive historical significance is the topic of a public lecture at Concordia on June 22.
The cylinder has been housed at the British Museum since it was discovered during an 1879 excavation in modern Iraq. John Curtis, the keeper of the museum’s Special Middle East Projects, will present “The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia: A New Beginning for the Middle East” in the John Molson School of Business Building.
The 23-centimetre-long object is made of clay, shaped like a barrel and covered in cuneiform script, an ancient form of writing.
About 2,600 years old, it is a proclamation by the Persian king Cyrus the Great after he captured Babylon. The text appears to support religious freedom and allows deported peoples to return to their homeland.
“This has been interpreted in modern times as a sort of declaration of human rights,” says Richard Foltz, director of Concordia’s Centre for Iranian Studies. “The UN has a replica of the cylinder in the lobby of its headquarters in New York City, which would seem to reflect this modern interpretation.”
A replica will also be on display at the lecture. The original cylinder is the star of an exhibition that is touring five cities in the United States this year. Curtis, who curated the exhibition, will be in New York when it opens at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on June 20.
Since there are no stops in Canada, Foltz invited Curtis to speak about the cylinder at Concordia, the first time he will be lecturing in Montreal.
“Although the cylinder is small and unprepossessing in appearance, it has a great impact on people when they learn what it says,” says Curtis.
While Montrealers interested in human rights and multiculturalism may want to attend, members of two communities in particular may be interested. For many Iranians, says Foltz, the cylinder represents the best of their culture and its contributions to human history. Cyrus is an important figure to Jews, as well; the Hebrew Bible recounts that he permitted Jews to return to their homeland.
In August 2014, Concordia’s Centre for Iranian Studies will also co-host the tenth biennial conference of the International Society for Iranian Studies, the largest gathering of Iran scholars in the world; its 2012 meeting in Istanbul brought together 525 participants from 35 countries.
“Both these events provide an opportunity to highlight Concordia’s unique contribution to the field of Iranian studies and the university’s positive relationship with Montreal’s Iranian community,” says Foltz, who is the conference chair.
What: Public lecture by John Curtis – “The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia: A New Beginning for the Middle East”
When: Saturday, June 22, 2013, at 7 p.m.
Where: BMO Amphitheatre, Room MB-1.210, John Molson School of Business Building (1450 Guy St.), Sir George Williams Campus
Related links:
• Concordia’s Centre for Iranian Studies
• The Cyrus Cylinder Tour
• British Museum press release
• International Society for Iranian Studies
• Concordia’s Faculty of Arts and Science
• “Why Is the Cyrus cylinder important?” — The Economist, April 3, 2013