The Cyrus Cylinder is an ancient document written in Akkadian cuneiform, attributed to Achaemenid Persian conqueror Cyrus the Great, after his conquest of Babylon.

It was written around the 6th century BC and was discovered in the ruins of Babylon in 1879.

The text of the cylinder describes Cyrus' denouncement of overthrown Babylonian king Nabonidus, and Cyrus' subsequent defamation of him as a tyrant and oppressor, before introducing Cyrus' wise and magnanimous kingship.

Although originally hailed as some revolutionary charter of human rights, the cylinder actually represents fairly standard practice for conquering Middle-Eastern kings.

Source:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/articles/c/cyrus_cylinder_-_translation.aspx

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