Zoroastrianism, the traditional faith of his Persian ancestors, was installed as the official state religion to help strengthen his family’s claims to the throne.

Cyrus thus founded the first Persian Empire. The Archaemenian kings are known to have been very pious Zoroastrians, trying to rule justly and in accordance with the Zoroastrian law of asha (truth ...

It was internal squabbles that weakened the mighty Persian empire 2,500 years ago so that the Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, could do the impossible and conquer the Persian/Iranian Empire. Same ...

Networks of a vast empire The image on the front of this chariot represents the Egyptian god Bes, who was adopted by the Persian religion and had a role as a protector. Images of Bes and other ...