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How did Cyrus the Great present himself to the Babylonians after conquering Babylon?

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Relief of three Achaemenid warriors, known as the Ten Thousand Immortals, depicted in profile on glazed bricks with patterned robes and bows, from the Palace of Artaxerxes at Susa.
Achaemenid Empire Frieze of Archers from the palace of Darius I at Susa, c. 510 bce; some believe the warriors are among the Ten Thousand Immortals.

After conquering Babylon in 539 BCE, Cyrus the Great presented himself as a tolerant and conciliatory ruler rather than a conqueror who imposed his own culture.1

To gain the support of the local population, he adopted the following approaches:

  • Respect for Local Customs: He actively supported local traditions and customs to win the favor of his new subjects.1
  • Religious Observance: He demonstrated respect for the local religion by sacrificing to the national deity, Marduk, which helped secure the support of the Babylonian priesthood who had become estranged from the previous ruler, Nabonidus.1
  • Liberation: He is famously remembered for his policy of freeing captive groups, including the Jews held in Babylonia, allowing them to return to their homelands.12

By utilizing diplomacy alongside military strength, Cyrus established himself as a leader who valued stability and integration over the forced assimilation of conquered peoples.1