A 29-foot bronze statue of Cyrus the Great has been installed in Atlanta’s Pardis Park, where it stands on a stone base modelled on his tomb in Iran. Sculpted by Atlanta artist Stan Mullins, the monument required several years of work involving more than 40 people. Its formal dedication is scheduled for Saturday at Iran Unveiled, a free, family-friendly festival celebrating Persian culture.
The founder of the Persian Empire roughly 2,500 years ago, Cyrus is remembered for religious tolerance as well as conquest. He released Jewish captives in Babylon, allowing them to return home and rebuild their temple. The Cyrus Cylinder, a clay artefact held by the British Museum, reflects his policy of religious freedom and respect for the peoples under his rule; it is often described as an early declaration of human rights. For project leader Rostam Zafari, this legacy made Atlanta, the city associated with Martin Luther King Jr., an appropriate setting for a monument to freedom, peace and coexistence. The park already honours international human-rights figures, including Cuban poet José Martí and Hungary’s freedom fighters.
Zafari dedicated the project to his grandparents. Arriving while the United States is at war with Iran, the statue is intended to offer Americans a different perspective on Iranian people and their shared ideals. That ambition also informs Nimruz, the non-profit organisation Zafari co-founded with his cousin, Sepanta Mohseni. It brings together Iranians across backgrounds, faiths and viewpoints to celebrate their culture and share it with their neighbours.
