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Glite Dictionary
Cyrus the Great

Cyrus the Great

1 7.5
A king of Persia who founded the Persian Empire and ruled from about 600 to 529 BC
  • proper noun
: Ciro el Grande
  • Upon conquering Babylonia in 539 BCE, Cyrus the Great found thousands of Jews in captivity there.

Examples

  • As king of Persia, Cyrus the Great is remembered for his respect for the customs and religions of the lands he conquered.

  • One of the most interesting meetings in history occurred when a group of scouts from Cyrus the Great's army arrived in Western Anatolia, lost and in search of food while on a reconnaissance mission to expand the empire westward.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Cyrus the Great established the Persian Empire and became known for his progressive policies.

  • Cyrus the Great ruled from 600 to 529 BC, during a time of significant expansion for the Persian Empire.

Synonyms

Cyrus II
vsCyrus the Great
7.9

King of Persia around 600–529 BC who founded the Persian Empire

uses a descriptive epithet rather than a regnal number
Cyrus the Elder
vsCyrus the Great
8.8

King of Persia who founded the Persian Empire around 600–529 BC

uses a common epithet instead of a formal title or number

Surface Forms

Cyrus the Great main

Morphology

Cyrus + the + great

This is a personal name with an epithet: a learner who knows 'Cyrus' is a name and 'the Great' signals an honored/distinguished person can infer that the phrase refers to an important historical figure. However, the precise information (that he was the king who founded the Persian Empire and his dates) is not recoverable from the constituents, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Cyrus the Great was a real king who built the early Persian Empire and took control of many lands. People remembered his power and the way he let people keep their own religions and set many captives free, so they gave him the title 'the Great' to show respect.