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Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great tells children the life of the founder of the Persian Empire in English and Persian. It begins with the old legend of a boy raised by a shepherd, whom his grandfather Astyages did not recognize, then follows his lessons from his father Cambyses I, his family with Cassandane, and the way he treated the people of Babylon. Short fact pages cover his hobbies and character. 130-page PDF.
The king Iranians are proudest of, told for children in both languages
Many Iranian families abroad want their children to know who Cyrus was. Cyrus the Great starts with a story children enjoy: a boy chosen as “king” by his playmates, a quarrel with the son of a nobleman named Artembares, and a grandfather, King Astyages, who finally learns who the shepherd’s boy really is.
From there the book mixes story chapters, such as “The Kind King of Persia” and “The Rise of the Persian Empire”, with short “Fascinating Facts” pages about his hunting, horse riding, archery and love of bards and music. It ends with his family: Queen Cassandane, his sons Cambyses II and Bardiya, and daughters Atossa, Artystone and Roxane. Every page comes in English and Persian.
At a glance
What the book covers
The boy who was hidden
The legend of Cyrus’s childhood with a shepherd, and how King Astyages discovers he is his grandson.
Learning to lead
Lessons from his father, King Cambyses I, about fairness, taxes and solving people’s problems.
Building an empire
Roads that joined his lands and made trade easier, and his respect for the gods of Babylon after he took the city.
Family life
Cyrus at home with Cassandane and their five children, a gentle close to the book.
The opening lines in Persian
The Persian story begins like a fairy tale:
| Persian | English |
|---|---|
| روزی روزگاری در یک سرزمین پادشاهی که در میان تپهها و درههای سرسبز قرار داشت، پسری به نام کوروش زندگی میکرد. | Once upon a time, in a kingdom among green hills and valleys, there lived a boy named Cyrus. |
| کوروش یک پسربچهی معمولی نبود. | Cyrus was not an ordinary boy. |
The English here is our translation of the Persian line; the book gives its own English version of the same passage.
Reading it together
- Read the shepherd story as a bedtime tale first; children remember Cyrus better once they know how he was found.
- On each page, read the English, then the Persian, and ask your child to find کوروش (Kurosh, Cyrus) in the Persian text.
- After the Babylon pages, talk about what it means to respect people whose beliefs differ from yours.
- Read our free article on Cyrus the Great together with older children who want more history.
Who this book is for
A good fit if you
- want your child to know an Iranian king by his Persian name, Kurosh
- like history told as a story, with fun facts between the chapters
- read with a child who already knows a few Persian letters
Look elsewhere if you
- want myths and heroes rather than history; Rostam Seven Trials retells a Shahnameh adventure
- need a historian’s account for older students; this book is a gentle retelling for children
Use it with
- The Story of Alexander the Great: the conqueror who later took over the Persian Empire.
- Farsi Children Books Bundle: every kids story in one purchase.
Common questions
Is this a Shahnameh story?
No. Cyrus does not appear in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh. This is a children’s biography based on the historical king and the well-known legend of his childhood.
What age is it for?
About 7 to 11. The language is simple and warm, and the fact pages are short enough for younger listeners.
Does my child need to read Persian already?
No. All of the text is also in English, so a child can follow along while a parent reads the Persian.
What do I get after I buy?
A 130-page PDF, ready to download the moment checkout is done, to read on a tablet or computer or print at home.
Is there a paperback?
Yes, there is a paperback on Amazon; this page sells the PDF.
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