The Ancient Iranian Perception of Cyrus the Great.

While the only surviving legends of Cyrus the great are found in the GraecoRoman sources, they ultimately speak to various viewpoints in Achaemenid Iran on Cyrus. Following a survey of historical conditions surrounding the rise of the Persian Empire by Cyrus and its consolidation under Darius, characteristics of western Iranian historiography concerning the Median “state” and the dawn of the Persian Empire during the Achaemenid period are explored. It is argued that the Median and Iranian orientation of the Achaemenid Empire from the time of Darius provides the possibility of infusion of Young Avestan myths and legends in western Iran. In particular, the parallels between stories of Cyrus the great and Kauui Haosrauuah (Kay Ḵosrow) are investigated that point to a process of assimilation of the former with the latter that probably started in the Achaemenid period and later led to a two-way interaction of legends about these two figures. In addition, the depiction of Alexander in the Iranian tradition and his association with Kay Ḵosrow, analogous to his association with Cyrus the great in the western sources are pointed out that may further show the assimilation of Cyrus the great with the Iranian tradition by being identified with Kay Ḵosrow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]