Cyrus

Cyrus is a masculine given name of Persian origin, derived from the Old Persian name Kuruš. It has appeared in various languages and cultures throughout history and is most closely associated with ancient Persian rulers as well as several modern figures.

The most prominent bearer is Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BCE. He united the Iranian plateau and expanded the empire to include Anatolia, Lydia, and Babylon, creating one of the largest empires of the ancient world. Cyrus is traditionally credited with adopting a policy of respectful governance that allowed local customs and religions to continue, and with permitting exiled peoples, including those from Jerusalem, to return to their homelands. The Cyrus Cylinder, dating from his reign, is often cited in discussions of his administrative and cultural policies. In biblical texts, Cyrus is depicted as a ruler who facilitated the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple.

Cyrus the Younger, a prince and general, was a son of Darius II and sought to claim the Persian throne with support from Greek mercenaries. He was killed at the Battle of Cunaxa in 401 BCE, an event recounted by Xenophon in the Anabasis.

In modern times, Cyrus remains a common given name. Notable individuals include Cyrus Vance, U.S. Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter, and his son Cyrus Vance Jr., the longtime Manhattan District Attorney. In information technology, Cyrus refers to Cyrus IMAP, an open-source mail server project used for large-scale email deployments and maintained by a consortium of developers, including Carnegie Mellon University.