Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which cities served as capitals for Cyrus the Great?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Map showing the extent of the Achaemenid Empire during the 6th and 5th centuries BC, shaded in light green and spanning from the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt through the Middle East to parts of Central Asia and the Indus Valley. Major regions, cities, and trade routes such as the Royal Road are labeled within the empire's boundaries.
ancient Iran

Cyrus the Great maintained several cities as capitals for his empire. These included:1

  • Pasargadae: Established by Cyrus as a new capital in Persis, it is situated on the site where he defeated the Medes.12
  • Ecbatana: The former capital of the Medes, which Cyrus utilized as one of his imperial capitals.1
  • Babylon: Following his conquest of the city in 539 BCE, Cyrus maintained it as a winter capital.1