A 29-foot bronze statue of Cyrus the Great has been installed in Atlanta’s Pardis Park, placing the ancient Persian ruler in a setting intended to celebrate human dignity. The bronze figure alone weighs approximately 8,000 pounds; its limestone base replicates the form of his tomb in Iran. The monument’s formal unveiling will take place during a free festival devoted to Persian culture.
Although Cyrus founded the Persian Empire roughly 2,500 years ago, his enduring reputation rests on tolerance as well as conquest. His legacy includes respect for religious differences and the liberation of Jewish captives in Babylon, whom he permitted to return home and rebuild their temple. For Rostam Zafari, the driving force behind the project, that history makes Atlanta an appropriate home for the statue because of its association with Martin Luther King Jr. Zafari sees the monument as an expression of freedom, peace, coexistence, and justice.
The sculpture, created by Atlanta artist Stan Mullins, took several years and the participation of more than 40 people to complete, with financing a persistent obstacle. Zafari dedicated the project to his grandparents. Its cultural purpose also reflects the work of Nimruz, the nonprofit he co-founded to unite Iranians across backgrounds, faiths, and viewpoints. Through celebrations of Iranian culture and exchanges with neighbors, the organization seeks to bring people together.
