Bonus XXII- In Other News: Cyrus the Great (feat. So You Think You Can Rule Persia?)

We are joined by Sariel and Umberto from So You Think You Can Rule Persia to discuss Cyrus the Great. At about the time that Servius Tullius is ruling as the sixth (or perhaps seventh) king of Rome, Cyrus is busy unifying the Persians, Medians, Babylonians, Lydians and Ionians into the Achaemenid Persian empire.Our thanks to Umberto and Sariel for joining us! You can find So You Think You Can Rule Persia wherever you find your podcasts.Time period: 559-530 BCERelevant individuals:Cyrus the Great, Persian King of KingsAstyages, King of MediaCroesus, King of LydiaNabonidus, King of BabylonHarpagus, Median and Persian commanderMandane, daughter of Astyages and mother of CyrusCambyses I, King of PersiaSources for this episode:Cook, J. M. (1999), The Persians. London: The Folio Society.Flavius Josephus (2006), Jewish Antiquities. Translated by W. Whiston. Ware: Wordsworth Editions Ltd.Fried, L. S. (2002), Cyrus the Messiah? The Historical Background to Isaiah 45:1. Harvard Theological Review 95(4): 373-393.Grainger, J. D. (2019), Ancient Dynasties: The Families that Ruled the Classical World, Circa 1000 BC to AD 750. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books Ltd.Herodotus (1971), The Histories. Translated by A. de Sélincourt. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.Plato (2008, reprinted 2013), Alcibaides I. Translated by B. Jowett. Online, available at Gutenberg (Accessed 23/05/2026).Weech, W. N. (ed.) (1944), History of the World. Watford: Odhams Press Ltd.Wells, H. G. (1965), A Short History of the World. London: Collins Clear-Type Press.Author unknown, (2010), International Children’s Bible. New Century Version. Milton Keynes: Authentic Media Ltd.Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Croesus (online) (Accessed 23/05/2026).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Cyaxares II (online) (Accessed 23/05/2026).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Darius the Mede (online) (Accessed 24/05/2026).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Perses (son of Perseus) (online) (Accessed 24/05/2026).Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Xerxes I (online) (Accessed 24/06/2026).