Cyrus << SY ruhs >> the Great ( ? -530 B.C.) founded the Persian Empire about 550 B.C. He extended this empire to include most of southwestern Asia.
Cyrus was born into a noble Persian family, the Achaemenids. In 559 B.C., he became ruler of Anshan, a part of the Median Empire. About 550 B.C., Cyrus overthrew King Astyages of Media and made the Median Empire the center of what became the Persian Empire. Cyrus seized control of western Asia Minor (now western Turkey) after defeating King Croesus of Lydia about 545 B.C. and then overcoming the Greek cities along the coast of Asia Minor. In 539 B.C., he conquered Babylonia and took control of much of the Middle East, including Palestine.
Cyrus respected local customs and religions in his empire. He freed the Jews from captivity in Babylonia and let them rebuild their Temple at Jerusalem. He died in a battle in central Asia.
See also Croesus; Lydia; Media; Persia, Ancient (The Achaemenid Empire).
