The University of Toronto and Elehé Omidyar Mir-Djalali Institute of Iranian Studies presents.

-Cyrus in the 6ix-

A Public Discussion on the Installation of a Cyrus the Great Statue in Toronto

Convened by:
Professor Mohamad Tavakoli Ali Ehsassi
University of Toronto Member of Parliament

Date: Saturday, 11 September 2021 @ 4:00 pm EDT

Hailed as a ruler who liberated Jews from captivity in Babylonia in the Old Testament, Cyrus the Great (r. 550-529 BC) has been widely recognized as the originator of a multi-confessional, multi-ethnic, and multi-lingual polity in the ancient world. Also praised by the Greek historians Herodotus, Xenophon, and Ctesias, the 1879 discovery of the “Cyrus Cylinder”--which is considered to be the earliest expression of the concept of human rights--reinforced the scholarly view of Cyrus as an exemplary ruler of the ancient world.

A 10-foot bronze statue of Cyrus the Great donated to the City of Toronto for installation in a suitable public space is a way to bring the legacy of Cyrus into a dynamic relationship with Canadian multiculturalism.

Following an inspiring and supportive meeting with Mayor John Tory concerning the statue, this public discussion is intended to gauge the level of support for installing the Cyrus statue in a suitable site in Toronto.


To register for the meeting, click on the banner below.