CPD Revisits the Iconic Cyrus Cylinder

The USC Center on Public Diplomacy is thrilled to announce an upcoming event featuring a discussion about the enduring significance of a 2,500-year-old object: the Cyrus Cylinder.

A small clay object covered in Akkadian cuneiform script and hailing from Iran, the Cyrus Cylinder is considered by many to be the first declaration of human rights and a powerful symbol of religious tolerance and multiculturalism.

For the first time, this iconic artifact has been touring the United States, giving many a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see it. The Cyrus Cylinder is currently housed in the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa here in Los Angeles until December 2, 2013 – the object’s final stop before its return to the British Museum.

On Tuesday, October 30, J. Paul Getty Museum Director Dr. Timothy Potts, CPD Director Jay Wang and CPD University Fellow Nicholas J. Cull will discuss the Cyrus Cylinder and the vital role of cultural institutions in facilitating global dialogue.

This event is part of the William H. Luers Lecture Series on Iran and Public Diplomacy.

For more information and resources on the Cyrus Cylinder, please refer to the following links:

• Event details
• CPD’S log of the cylinder’s U.S. tour media coverage
• PDiN feature article: The Cyrus Cylinder Tour of the U.S.: Culture Transcending Politics
• Neil MacGregor TED Talk video
• The full exhibit at the J. Paul Getty Museum