"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."

"I am Cyrus, king of the world."

"I have set free the captives and restored their images to their shrines."

"I returned to these sacred cities on the other side of the Tigris, the sanctuaries of which have been in ruins for a long time, the images which used to live therein and established for them permanent…"

"My empire is a house with many rooms, and all are welcome."