Iranians called him the father, Babylonians called him the protector, Jews called him the messiah and Greeks called him the law giver.
The outstanding leader, Cyrus embraced the known world and established security for the oppressed and became one of the most important figures of ancient history. He is also mentioned in the Quran known as Zulqarnain.
For the first time, a national film will be made about Koorosh-e-Kabir, also known as Cyrus the Great in the English speaking world. The movie will be developed and produced by Iranians from the Farabi Cinematic Foundation (FCF).
Previous films related to the Achaemenid civilisation have lacked accuracy in their representation of historical accounts. Movies such as Hollywood’s ‘Alexander the Great’ and ‘300′ have all portrayed a distorted view of ancient Iran.
Achaemenids were the first of the dynasties to rule over significant portions of Greater Iran. At the height of its power, encompassing approximately 8 million square kilometres, territorially about twice the size of the Roman Empire which appeared centuries later.
This cinematic film will attempt to recreate the events of Cyrus’ life. Efforts were originally made in 2003 to make a film about Cyrus by British-German producer Alex Jovy who was granted to spend £50 million on the film. He stated that 75% of the film’s payroll would go to the British, European and Commonwealth nationals. Shortly after film development came to a halt.
There is limited historical evidence about Cyrus’ life but it is known that he was a descendant to the royal Achaemenid family and was banished as a child and raised by shepherds. He grew strong in leadership and eventually took the throne as Iran’s supreme king uniting the Arian people: Kurds (Medes) and Fars (Persians). Before him there were a multitude of city states and after him there was a vision that the unification of all cultures, one world could be possible.
Fortunately for Iranians and Middle Easterners, having to endure years of negative press in the Western media, the Iranians will take the legendary figure to the big screen. It is likely the language in the film will be Farsi and the project may hit the international stage in Spanish and Russian which was announced by FCF director Ahmad Mir-Alaii.
According to Tehran Times the idea for the film was initiated by Azizollah Hamidnejad. A professional team will soon begin writing the screenplay with the supervision of Jalil Erfanmanesh.
Cyrus the Great is most famous for issuing a decree called the charter of rights of nations inscribed in cuneiform. A replica is displayed in the United Nations headquarters known as the ‘First declaration of Human Rights’.
The Achaemenids were important for their development of government administration, the spread of art and religious enlightenment which brought the first monotheistic religion Zoroastrianism to the world.
It was 550 BC when Cyrus established Achaemenid Iran, making the dynasty the first supreme power of the known world connecting the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe by respecting cultures, religious beliefs and human rights, a good reminder of today’s mutually dependent and interconnected world.
Amir Tahouri
