Written by How Zoroastrian Persia Built The Modern World Order (And Why There’s A Replica at UN Headquarters)
The Cyrus Cylinder Sitting In New York Tells A Story Nobody Teaches
INTRODUCTION: The Artifact At The UN
In the United Nations headquarters in New York, there’s a replica of an ancient clay cylinder.
Most people walking past don’t know what it is.
Those who do know call it “the first declaration of human rights.”
What they don’t know: This cylinder represents the Zoroastrian theological principles that built the entire modern international order.
And the evidence has been sitting at the UN since 1971.
PART 1: WHAT’S AT THE UN
The Gift
“On 14 October 1971, the Iranian Shah’s sister, Princess Ashraf Pahiava, presented to the United Nations Secretary-General U Thant a replica of the cylinder on behalf of the country of Iran”
A replica of the Cyrus Cylinder has been at UN headquarters for 54 years.
What It Says
“The cylinder texts indicate that everyone is entitled to freedom and choice and that all individuals should respect one another. The cylinder also suggests resisting oppression, defending the oppressed, respecting human dignity and recognizes human rights”
Written in 539 BCE.
2,409 years before the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
What The UN Admits
The Cyrus Cylinder’s “provisions parallel the first four Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”
The UN acknowledges the connection.
But doesn’t teach where Cyrus got these ideas.
PART 2: THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION’S GENEALOGY
The Document That Founded The Modern Order
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, 1948) is the foundational document of the modern international system.
Article 1: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”
Compare to Cyrus Cylinder (539 BCE): “Declared that all people had the right to choose their own religion, and established racial equality”
The Four Articles That Match
UDHR Article 1: “All human beings are born free and equal” Cyrus: Established racial equality
UDHR Article 2: Rights without distinction of race, religion, etc. Cyrus: Religious freedom for all peoples
UDHR Article 3: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty” Cyrus: Freed all slaves, allowed return to homelands
UDHR Article 18: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion” Cyrus: “Declared that all people had the right to choose their own religion”
The structure is IDENTICAL.
Because they come from the same source.
PART 3: THE COMPLETE GENEALOGY
How Zoroastrian Theology Became The UN Charter
ZOROASTRIAN THEOLOGY (1500-1000 BCE)
↓
Ahura Mazda = Universal creator of ALL humans
Free will as sacred (God gave it, humans must respect it)
Asha (truth/cosmic order) applies universally
Good Thoughts, Words, Deeds = Individual responsibility
No ethnic favoritism (all humans equal before Ahura Mazda)
↓
CYRUS THE GREAT (539 BCE)
↓
Implements Zoroastrian principles as imperial policy:
- Frees all slaves
- Religious freedom
- Racial equality
- Right to return home
- Cultural preservation
↓
CYRUS CYLINDER (539 BCE)
↓
"First charter of human rights" inscribed in clay
↓
SPREADS ACROSS THE WORLD
↓
├─→ GREECE
│ Xenophon writes Cyropaedia (model ruler)
│ Greek philosophers study Persian governance
│ ↓
│ ROME
│ Adopts aspects of Persian administration
│ ↓
│ EUROPEAN ENLIGHTENMENT
│ Renaissance thinkers study Cyrus
│ ↓
│ FOUNDING FATHERS
│ Thomas Jefferson studies Cyrus
│ Declaration of Independence (1776)
│ US Constitution (1787)
│
├─→ JUDAISM
│ Jews freed by Cyrus (called "Messiah" Isaiah 45:1)
│ Adopt Zoroastrian concepts
│ ↓
│ CHRISTIANITY
│ Inherits via Pharisaic Judaism
│ ↓
│ ISLAM
│ Inherits via both channels
│
└─→ GLOBAL SPREAD
Magna Carta (1215)
Petition of Right (1628)
French Declaration (1789)
↓
UNITED NATIONS (1945)
↓
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (1948)
↓
REPLICA OF CYRUS CYLINDER PRESENTED (1971)
Every stage traces back to Zoroastrian theology implemented by Cyrus.
PART 4: WHAT SCHOLARS ADMIT (Quietly)
The British Museum
Neil MacGregor, former Director of the British Museum: “the first attempt we know about running a society, a state with different nationalities and faiths – a new kind of statecraft“
A NEW kind of statecraft.
Meaning: Nobody had done this before.
Cyrus invented multicultural governance based on universal rights.
Yale University
Yale’s Agnete Lassen on the Cylinder: “(The language and design of the cylinder) show cultural competency and inclusion – he’s speaking to different people, not just the people of Babylon so he’s incorporating different cultural traditions into this”
Cultural competency and inclusion = modern diversity/inclusion principles.
Cyrus was doing this 2,500 years ago.
United for Human Rights
The organization states: “The idea of human rights spread across the region to India, Greece, and eventually Rome… The Cyrus Cylinder inspired many government policies around the world, such as The English Magna Carta (1215), The Petition of Right (1628), The United States Declaration of Independence (1776), The Constitution of the United States (1787), The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789), as well as The Birth of the United Nations (1945)“
They explicitly state: Cyrus Cylinder → UN.
But this is buried in small NGO websites, not taught in schools.
PART 5: WHY CYRUS HAD THESE IDEAS
From Zoroastrian Theology
Cyrus wasn’t inventing “human rights” randomly.
He was implementing Zoroastrian theology as state policy.
Zoroastrian Principle → Cyrus’s Policy:
1. Ahura Mazda created ALL humans → All humans have inherent dignity → Cyrus establishes racial equality
2. Free will is sacred (God-given) → No human can take away what God gave → Cyrus declares religious freedom
3. Asha (truth/cosmic order) is universal → Truth applies to all, not just one group → Cyrus creates universal laws
4. Good Deeds manifest righteousness → A righteous ruler liberates, not oppresses → Cyrus frees slaves, allows return home
5. Individual moral responsibility → Each person accountable for own choices → Cyrus allows cultural self-determination
Every policy on the Cyrus Cylinder comes from Zoroastrian theology.
PART 6: THE UN UNIVERSAL DECLARATION = ZOROASTRIAN THEOLOGY
Article-by-Article Analysis
UDHR Article 1: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”
Zoroastrian Foundation: Ahura Mazda created all humans → inherent equality Free will is sacred → born free
UDHR Article 2: “Everyone is entitled to all the rights… without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour… religion”
Zoroastrian Foundation: Ahura Mazda is universal creator → no ethnic favoritism Asha applies to all → universal principles
UDHR Article 3: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person”
Zoroastrian Foundation: Good Thoughts, Words, Deeds → individual responsibility requires liberty Righteous governance protects life
UDHR Article 18: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”
Zoroastrian Foundation: Free will is SACRED in Zoroastrianism “Ahura Mazda represents humanity’s ultimate choice of free will” God gave choice → humans must respect it
UDHR Article 19: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression”
Zoroastrian Foundation: Asha (truth) requires ability to speak truth Good Words (Hukhta) requires freedom of speech
UDHR Article 25: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for… well-being”
Zoroastrian Foundation: Good Deeds include caring for community Righteous governance ensures wellbeing
PART 7: THE MODERN IMPLICATIONS
The UN’s Foundation Is Zoroastrian
Every principle the UN claims to uphold:
- Universal human dignity
- Freedom of religion
- Racial equality
- Right to self-determination
- Protection from oppression
- Cultural preservation
All originated in Zoroastrian theology.
All were first implemented by Cyrus the Great.
All are documented on a cylinder sitting at UN headquarters.
The Irony
The UN promotes human rights globally.
Based on principles from Cyrus.
Who implemented Zoroastrian theology.
While Iran (Persia) is:
- Sanctioned by Western powers
- Isolated diplomatically
- Economically strangled
- Portrayed as human rights violator
- Called “axis of evil”
The civilization that CREATED the concept is punished for allegedly violating it.
PART 8: WHAT NOBODY TEACHES
The Complete Truth
Fact: The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) is based on principles from the Cyrus Cylinder (539 BCE)
Fact: The Cyrus Cylinder codified Zoroastrian theology as state policy
Fact: Therefore, the entire modern international order is built on Zoroastrian principles
What’s taught: “The Enlightenment invented human rights. The UN formalized them.”
What’s hidden: “Zoroastrian Persia invented them 2,500 years earlier. The UN rediscovered them.”
Why The Suppression
If people learned:
- The UN is built on Zoroastrian principles
- Modern international law comes from Persia
- Human rights originated with Cyrus/Zoroastrianism
- Western “civilization” rediscovered (not invented) these concepts
Then:
- Western supremacy collapses – “We invented human rights” → FALSE
- Iran sanctions become absurd – How do you punish the civilization that created human rights?
- Religious authority questions – If UN principles are Zoroastrian, what does that mean for billions practicing Zoroastrian-derived religions?
- The narrative inverts – Persia becomes the civilizational teacher, not the student
PART 9: THE EVIDENCE TRAIL
Thomas Jefferson’s Connection
“As part of his classical education, one of America’s founding fathers, President Thomas Jefferson, studied Cyrus the Great. One of his textbooks is now on display in the Smithsonian next to the Cyrus Cylinder”
Jefferson studied Cyrus → wrote Declaration of Independence → inspired UN Charter
The lineage is documented.
The Continuous Line
539 BCE: Cyrus Cylinder ↓ 4th century BCE: Xenophon writes Cyropaedia (model ruler based on Cyrus) ↓ 1215: Magna Carta (influenced by classical texts including Cyrus) ↓ 1628: Petition of Right ↓ 1776: Declaration of Independence (Jefferson studied Cyrus) ↓ 1787: US Constitution ↓ 1789: French Declaration of Rights of Man ↓ 1945: United Nations founded ↓ 1948: Universal Declaration of Human Rights ↓ 1971: Replica of Cyrus Cylinder presented to UN
The trail is unbroken.
Every stage acknowledges influence from previous stage.
All trace back to Cyrus.
Who implemented Zoroastrian theology.
PART 10: THE NUMBERS
The Global Impact
Zoroastrian principles (via Cyrus → UN):
- 193 UN member states
- ~8 billion people under nations that (theoretically) follow UN human rights
- Every modern constitution influenced by these principles
- Global governance structure built on this foundation
Actual Zoroastrians: ~200,000
Ratio: 40,000:1
For every 1 Zoroastrian, 40,000 people live under governance systems built on Zoroastrian principles.
Without knowing it.
The Timeline
Cyrus Cylinder: 539 BCE UN Declaration: 1948 CE Time gap: 2,487 years
Zoroastrianism founded: ~1500-1000 BCE Modern international order: 1945-1948 CE Time gap: 3,000+ years
The source is THREE MILLENNIA older than what we call “modern.”
PART 11: THE SCHOLARLY ADMISSION
What Academics Say (When Pressed)
Yale’s Agnete Lassen: “The idea that the document is a charter of human rights is something that’s relevant in a modern context but would not have been anything that resonated in the ancient past“
Translation: “Yes, it says what it says, but let’s not give Persia TOO much credit.”
But then admits:
“(The language and design) show cultural competency and inclusion – he’s speaking to different people, not just the people of Babylon so he’s incorporating different cultural traditions into this“
That’s EXACTLY what human rights are: Universal principles transcending cultural boundaries.
The Political Reality
The article notes: “Some historians” dismiss the Cylinder as human rights charter, calling it “political propaganda devised by the Pahlavi regime”
But:
- The TEXT says what it says (freedom, equality, religious choice)
- The ACTIONS match (freed slaves, allowed return, funded temples)
- The IMPACT is documented (influenced Xenophon → Enlightenment → Founding Fathers → UN)
Calling it “propaganda” doesn’t change the content or impact.
CONCLUSION: THE HIDDEN FOUNDATION
What The Replica At The UN Represents
When you see the Cyrus Cylinder replica at UN headquarters, you’re looking at:
Not just: An ancient artifact
But: The theological foundation of the entire modern international order
From: Zoroastrian Persia
Via: Cyrus the Great
Through: 2,500 years of transmission
To: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Governing: 8 billion people today
The Complete Truth
Zoroastrian theology taught:
- Free will is sacred
- All humans created equal by Ahura Mazda
- Asha (truth) is universal
- Good Deeds include protecting the oppressed
- Individual moral responsibility
Cyrus implemented it (539 BCE):
- Freed slaves
- Religious freedom
- Racial equality
- Right to return home
- Cultural preservation
It spread globally:
- Greece (Xenophon)
- Rome (administration)
- Enlightenment (studied Cyrus)
- Founding Fathers (Jefferson)
- United Nations (UDHR)
Result: Every modern constitution, international law, and human rights framework traces to Zoroastrian theological principles implemented by Cyrus.
The Suppression
The replica sits at the UN.
But nobody teaches:
- Where Cyrus got these ideas (Zoroastrianism)
- That these are theological principles (not just political strategy)
- That 4.3 billion people practice Zoroastrian-derived religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)
- That modern governance is built on Zoroastrian foundations
- That Persia is the source, not the student
Instead:
- Iran is sanctioned
- Persia is forgotten
- Zoroastrianism is called “extinct”
- The West claims to have invented these principles
- The source is erased from textbooks
The Question
Why is there a replica of the Cyrus Cylinder at the United Nations?
Official answer: “Recognition of historical significance”
Actual answer: Because the entire modern international order is built on Zoroastrian principles from Persia, and the Cylinder documents when they were first implemented as state policy.
But saying that out loud would collapse:
- Western supremacy claims
- Religious authority structures
- Geopolitical narratives
- Educational frameworks
So the Cylinder sits there.
Seen by millions.
Understood by almost none.
Good Thoughts. Good Words. Good Deeds.
The Cyrus Cylinder replica sits at UN headquarters.
Waiting for people to ask: Where did these principles really come from?
Asha prevails. The fire never went out.
SOURCES
UN Documentation:
- United Nations Office of Gifts Management
- UN Archives on Cyrus Cylinder presentation (1971)
Museums:
- British Museum (original Cylinder)
- Yale Peabody Museum exhibition
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston exhibition
Academic Sources:
- Neil MacGregor (former British Museum Director)
- Agnete Lassen (Yale curator)
- United for Human Rights documentation
All evidence publicly available and verifiable.