Topic

Cyrus the Great

Not who you're looking for? Others named Cyrus the Great: founder of the Achaemenid Empire (559–529 BC)

0 members

Overview

Cyrus the Great is a 1695 tragedy by the British writer John Banks. It was his final work, although his earlier The Island Queens was staged several years later. Set at the court of the Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great, it was staged by Thomas Betterton's Company having previously been rejected by the United Company. John Downes described it as one of the "principal new plays" of the decade, although it did not enjoy many performances on stage. The original cast included Thomas Smith as Cyaxeres, Edward Kynaston as Hystaspes, John Bowman as Craesus, John Thurmond as Artabasus, Elizabeth Barry as Panthea and Anne Bracegirdle as Lausaria. The play used the innovation of casting Barry as the romantic object of Cyrus' love, while Bracegirdle is besotted with him and driven to distraction by his rejection. References Bibliography Howe, Elizabeth. The First English Actresses: Women and Drama, 1660-1700. Cambridge University Press, 1992. Lowerre, Kathryn. Music and Musicians on the London Stage, 1695-1705. Routledge, 2017. Milhous, Judith. Thomas Betterton and the Management of Lincoln's Inn Fields, 1695-1708. Southern Illinois University Press, 1979.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“May all the gods whom I settled in their sacred centers ask daily of Bêl and Nâbu that my days be long and may they intercede for my welfare. ... The people of Babylon blessed my kingship, and I settled all the lands in peaceful abodes.”
— The Cyrus cylinder (c. 538 B.C), as quoted in Cyrus Cylinder Translation at Livius.org
“Do what you want, but be prepared in that case to be ruled rather than to rule others... Soft countries breed soft men. For it is not possible for the same land to bear both wonderful fruits and men who are good at war.”
— After being suggested by Artembares, grandfather of Artayctes, to abandon the rocky land of Persia Proper for a better region in the empire.
“You cannot be buried in obscurity: you are exposed upon a grand theater to the view of the world. If your actions are upright and benevolent, be assured they will augment your power and happiness.”
— As quoted in A Dictionary of Thoughts : Being a Cyclopedia of Laconic Quotations from the Best Authors of the World, both Ancient and Modern (1908) by Tyron Edwards, p. 290
“O man, whoever you are and wherever you come from, for I know you will come, I am Cyrus who won the Persians their empire. Do not therefore begrudge me this bit of earth that covers my bones.”
— Epitaph of Cyrus, as quoted in Life of Alexander, in Plutarch : The Age of Alexander, translated by Ian Scott-Kilvert (1973), p.326.
“Whenever you can, act as a liberator. Freedom, dignity, wealth — these three together constitute the greatest happiness of humanity. If you bequeath all three to your people, their love for you will never die.”
— In Xenophon's Cyrus the Great: The Arts of Leadership and War (2006) p. 116, also quoted in "9 Timeless Leadership Lessons from Cyrus the Great" at Forbes.com (19 April 2012)

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

On IJR

No public IJR answers mention Cyrus the Great yet. As people ask about it and share their answers, they'll appear here.

Not who you're looking for? Others named Cyrus the Great: founder of the Achaemenid Empire (559–529 BC)

Overview

Cyrus the Great is a 1695 tragedy by the British writer John Banks. It was his final work, although his earlier The Island Queens was staged several years later. Set at the court of the Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great, it was staged by Thomas Betterton's Company having previously been rejected by the United Company. John Downes described it as one of the "principal new plays" of the decade, although it did not enjoy many performances on stage. The original cast included Thomas Smith as Cyaxeres, Edward Kynaston as Hystaspes, John Bowman as Craesus, John Thurmond as Artabasus, Elizabeth Barry as Panthea and Anne Bracegirdle as Lausaria. The play used the innovation of casting Barry as the romantic object of Cyrus' love, while Bracegirdle is besotted with him and driven to distraction by his rejection. References Bibliography Howe, Elizabeth. The First English Actresses: Women and Drama, 1660-1700. Cambridge University Press, 1992. Lowerre, Kathryn. Music and Musicians on the London Stage, 1695-1705. Routledge, 2017. Milhous, Judith. Thomas Betterton and the Management of Lincoln's Inn Fields, 1695-1708. Southern Illinois University Press, 1979.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Notable quotes

“May all the gods whom I settled in their sacred centers ask daily of Bêl and Nâbu that my days be long and may they intercede for my welfare. ... The people of Babylon blessed my kingship, and I settled all the lands in peaceful abodes.”
— The Cyrus cylinder (c. 538 B.C), as quoted in Cyrus Cylinder Translation at Livius.org
“Do what you want, but be prepared in that case to be ruled rather than to rule others... Soft countries breed soft men. For it is not possible for the same land to bear both wonderful fruits and men who are good at war.”
— After being suggested by Artembares, grandfather of Artayctes, to abandon the rocky land of Persia Proper for a better region in the empire.
“You cannot be buried in obscurity: you are exposed upon a grand theater to the view of the world. If your actions are upright and benevolent, be assured they will augment your power and happiness.”
— As quoted in A Dictionary of Thoughts : Being a Cyclopedia of Laconic Quotations from the Best Authors of the World, both Ancient and Modern (1908) by Tyron Edwards, p. 290
“O man, whoever you are and wherever you come from, for I know you will come, I am Cyrus who won the Persians their empire. Do not therefore begrudge me this bit of earth that covers my bones.”
— Epitaph of Cyrus, as quoted in Life of Alexander, in Plutarch : The Age of Alexander, translated by Ian Scott-Kilvert (1973), p.326.
“Whenever you can, act as a liberator. Freedom, dignity, wealth — these three together constitute the greatest happiness of humanity. If you bequeath all three to your people, their love for you will never die.”
— In Xenophon's Cyrus the Great: The Arts of Leadership and War (2006) p. 116, also quoted in "9 Timeless Leadership Lessons from Cyrus the Great" at Forbes.com (19 April 2012)

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.