The Cyrus Cylinder  is an ancient clay cylinder, dated to the 6th century BCE, on which is written a declaration in Akkadian cuneiform script in the name of King Cyrus (the Great,) of Persia. It  was discovered in the ruins of Babylon (modern Iraq) in 1879.

The declaration calls upon the nations under King Cyrus' rule to return to their native homelands and rebuild their places of worship. Many view the cylinder as a corroboration of the concluding verses of the (Hebrew) Bible, where King Cyrus called upon the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Holy Temple.

"And in the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, when the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah was fulfilled, the LORD roused the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia to issue a proclamation throughout his realm by word of mouth and in writing, as follows: “Thus said King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and has charged me with building Him a House in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any one of you of all His people, the LORD his God be with him and let him go up.” --- II Chronicles, 36: 22 - 23