Ostad
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2013
- Messages
- 1,971
- Reaction score
- 1
- Country
- Location
'The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia — A New Beginning', an exhibition in partnership with three Tata trusts
The British Museum and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya will showcase the exhibition in partnership with the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust
'The Cyrus Cylinder', 539-538 BC, Achaemenid, Clay
Mumbai: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), (formerly the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India), will showcase a remarkable exhibition ‘The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia – A New Beginning’ from December 21, 2013 to February 25, 2014. The exhibition is organised by the British Museum and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in partnership with the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust. The ‘Cyrus cylinder’, a small historically significant clay cylinder with inscriptions in Babylonian cuneiform, has been preserved in the British Museum collection since 1879 and was the proclamation of the Achaemenid King, Cyrus the Great (539BCE) at the time of his conquest of Babylon.
Curated by Dr John Curtis, keeper of special Middle East projects, British Museum, London, the exhibition traces two-and-a-half thousand years of history through the biography of one particular object – an inscription buried at the foundation of a building in ancient Babylon, post 539BC. The cylinder was inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform on the orders of the Persian King, Cyrus the Great (550-530BC).
Though the key exhibit of the exhibition will be the Cyrus cylinder, in order to narrate the story of Ancient Persia and its historical perspective and chronology, CSMVS will also showcase 32 other associated objects from the British Museum collection. The objects include inscriptions in old Persian cuneiform which was a contemporaneous novelty, jewellery and tableware, a gold plaque from the Oxus treasure associated with Zoroastrianism, and coins and seals. The objects exhibited will reflect new practices and different ways of administration, technological advances and architectural development of the period, giving visitors an enriched experience and deep insight into Persian history.
To provide an Indian context to the Cyrus cylinder exhibition, the curatorial team at CSMVS will also display two objects from the CSMVS collection: the first documentary evidence of Indian proclamation of human values (Ashokan Edict – 300BCE) propagated by the ancient Indian Emperor, Ashoka the Great, along with a relief panel from Persepolis. This extraordinary exhibition will be a rare opportunity for Indians to get a close view of the rich treasures of ancient Persia and its historical, social and political relevance in the present world.
Today, the Cyrus cylinder is not only perceived as a major document of world history, but often referred to as the first bill of human rights as it appears to permit freedom of worship throughout the Persian empire, and allows deported people to return to their homelands. It is valued all around the world as a symbol of tolerance and respect for different people and different faiths. A copy of the Cyrus cylinder is on display in the United Nations building in New York.
'The Darius Seal', c. 6-5th century BC, Achaemenid, Chalcedony
As a part of the exhibition, CSMVS will roll out an extensive education and students programme reaching out to more than 400 schools and colleges in and around Mumbai. These educational initiatives will include guided tours, lectures, symposiums and workshops. The workshops will include animation workshops on human rights, cuneiform script workshops, relief sculpture workshops, and workshops on numismatics. The workshops are designed to connect to the academic curriculum of students, and enable a better understanding of the importance of this historical object, and human values that it stands for. An inter-school essay writing competition will be held for the students. Online resources for teachers to plan self-guided visits for their school children along with other interesting activities like an object-based fun trail will be available on the museum website. Storytelling and puppet shows on Persian legends and myths will engage families alongside exciting activities such as a bookmark counter and a coin making counter. A reading corner will allow one to catch up on additional information about the Cyrus cylinder and ancient Persian civilisation.
CSMVS will also organise tactile tours for the visually impaired to give them a multi-sensory experience of the exhibition. The museum will roll out special activity-based visits for underprivileged children and the differently abled. Many of these exciting programmes – enrichment workshops, demonstrations and activities will be free for the school children to enjoy.
Gold armlet (Oxus treasure), 5-4th century BC, Achaemenid
Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum said, “We are delighted to be working with CSMVS to bring this exhibition to Mumbai, following its recent five-city US tour (organised by the Iran Heritage Foundation). It is hoped that the Cyrus cylinder will prove to be of great interest to all communities in India including the Parsis, for whom Cyrus has a particular importance. This exhibition also gives us the opportunity to build on the excellent relationship with CSMVS that has already been established, through the loan exhibition from the British Museum ‘Mummy: the Inside Story’, that was on display at CSMVS in November last year and was seen by over 300,000 visitors. It has also been a great pleasure to host CSMVS staff on our leadership and curatorial programmes at the British Museum. We now look forward to further constructive collaboration with CSMVS.”
Commenting on the occasion, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, director general, CSMVS said, “This is one of the few surviving documents that provide political, social and religious information about the ancient Persian Empire. It is said that Achaemenids were followers of the Zoroastrian religion (one of the world’s ancient religions) and that makes the Parsi community present here in the city proud and happy. It is gratifying that the British Museum will be sending this loan exhibition to Mumbai to coincide with the 10th Zoroastrian Congress celebrations. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust for their generous support and co-operation for bringing this exhibition to Mumbai. We would also like to extend our profound gratitude to the British Museum for this wonderful initiative.”
'The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia - A New Beginning', an exhibition in partnership with three Tata trusts - Tata Sons - Tata group
The British Museum and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya will showcase the exhibition in partnership with the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust
'The Cyrus Cylinder', 539-538 BC, Achaemenid, Clay
Mumbai: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), (formerly the Prince of Wales Museum of Western India), will showcase a remarkable exhibition ‘The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia – A New Beginning’ from December 21, 2013 to February 25, 2014. The exhibition is organised by the British Museum and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in partnership with the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust. The ‘Cyrus cylinder’, a small historically significant clay cylinder with inscriptions in Babylonian cuneiform, has been preserved in the British Museum collection since 1879 and was the proclamation of the Achaemenid King, Cyrus the Great (539BCE) at the time of his conquest of Babylon.
Curated by Dr John Curtis, keeper of special Middle East projects, British Museum, London, the exhibition traces two-and-a-half thousand years of history through the biography of one particular object – an inscription buried at the foundation of a building in ancient Babylon, post 539BC. The cylinder was inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform on the orders of the Persian King, Cyrus the Great (550-530BC).
Though the key exhibit of the exhibition will be the Cyrus cylinder, in order to narrate the story of Ancient Persia and its historical perspective and chronology, CSMVS will also showcase 32 other associated objects from the British Museum collection. The objects include inscriptions in old Persian cuneiform which was a contemporaneous novelty, jewellery and tableware, a gold plaque from the Oxus treasure associated with Zoroastrianism, and coins and seals. The objects exhibited will reflect new practices and different ways of administration, technological advances and architectural development of the period, giving visitors an enriched experience and deep insight into Persian history.
To provide an Indian context to the Cyrus cylinder exhibition, the curatorial team at CSMVS will also display two objects from the CSMVS collection: the first documentary evidence of Indian proclamation of human values (Ashokan Edict – 300BCE) propagated by the ancient Indian Emperor, Ashoka the Great, along with a relief panel from Persepolis. This extraordinary exhibition will be a rare opportunity for Indians to get a close view of the rich treasures of ancient Persia and its historical, social and political relevance in the present world.
Today, the Cyrus cylinder is not only perceived as a major document of world history, but often referred to as the first bill of human rights as it appears to permit freedom of worship throughout the Persian empire, and allows deported people to return to their homelands. It is valued all around the world as a symbol of tolerance and respect for different people and different faiths. A copy of the Cyrus cylinder is on display in the United Nations building in New York.
'The Darius Seal', c. 6-5th century BC, Achaemenid, Chalcedony
As a part of the exhibition, CSMVS will roll out an extensive education and students programme reaching out to more than 400 schools and colleges in and around Mumbai. These educational initiatives will include guided tours, lectures, symposiums and workshops. The workshops will include animation workshops on human rights, cuneiform script workshops, relief sculpture workshops, and workshops on numismatics. The workshops are designed to connect to the academic curriculum of students, and enable a better understanding of the importance of this historical object, and human values that it stands for. An inter-school essay writing competition will be held for the students. Online resources for teachers to plan self-guided visits for their school children along with other interesting activities like an object-based fun trail will be available on the museum website. Storytelling and puppet shows on Persian legends and myths will engage families alongside exciting activities such as a bookmark counter and a coin making counter. A reading corner will allow one to catch up on additional information about the Cyrus cylinder and ancient Persian civilisation.
CSMVS will also organise tactile tours for the visually impaired to give them a multi-sensory experience of the exhibition. The museum will roll out special activity-based visits for underprivileged children and the differently abled. Many of these exciting programmes – enrichment workshops, demonstrations and activities will be free for the school children to enjoy.
Gold armlet (Oxus treasure), 5-4th century BC, Achaemenid
Neil MacGregor, director of the British Museum said, “We are delighted to be working with CSMVS to bring this exhibition to Mumbai, following its recent five-city US tour (organised by the Iran Heritage Foundation). It is hoped that the Cyrus cylinder will prove to be of great interest to all communities in India including the Parsis, for whom Cyrus has a particular importance. This exhibition also gives us the opportunity to build on the excellent relationship with CSMVS that has already been established, through the loan exhibition from the British Museum ‘Mummy: the Inside Story’, that was on display at CSMVS in November last year and was seen by over 300,000 visitors. It has also been a great pleasure to host CSMVS staff on our leadership and curatorial programmes at the British Museum. We now look forward to further constructive collaboration with CSMVS.”
Commenting on the occasion, Sabyasachi Mukherjee, director general, CSMVS said, “This is one of the few surviving documents that provide political, social and religious information about the ancient Persian Empire. It is said that Achaemenids were followers of the Zoroastrian religion (one of the world’s ancient religions) and that makes the Parsi community present here in the city proud and happy. It is gratifying that the British Museum will be sending this loan exhibition to Mumbai to coincide with the 10th Zoroastrian Congress celebrations. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Navajbai Ratan Tata Trust for their generous support and co-operation for bringing this exhibition to Mumbai. We would also like to extend our profound gratitude to the British Museum for this wonderful initiative.”
'The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia - A New Beginning', an exhibition in partnership with three Tata trusts - Tata Sons - Tata group
Last edited:
