6. The Cyrus Cylinder
The Cyrus Cylinder, unearthed in Babylon, documents the Persian king Cyrus the Great’s policy of allowing exiled communities, including the Jews, to return to their homelands. This decree closely parallels the narrative found in the Book of Ezra, where Cyrus permits the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple. Often hailed as the world’s first human rights charter, the cylinder underscores the Bible’s historical accuracy regarding the end of the Babylonian exile. Discover more at The British Museum.
