The Ancients

Cyrus the Great

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Episode notes

The ancient Persian ruler who founded the Achaemenid Empire, known for his benevolent governance and conquests - Cyrus the Great was a giant of history. History remembers him as someone who conquered numerous lands, established a legendary empire, respected local customs, and allowed religious freedom for his subjects. But what does the archaeology tell us - and was he really that great?

In this episode Tristan welcomes Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones back to the podcast, to delve into this ruler's life. Looking at this origins, travels, family and ultimate demise - what can we learn about Cyrus the Great, and does the archaeology back it up?

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