Interesting Fact # 1251 - Human Rights

The Cyrus Cylinder, a 2,500-year-old clay cylinder covered with cuneiform lettering is thought to be the world's first declaration of human rights.

(The cylinder is from Persia, now known as Iran, and was ordered by the Persian king Cyrus following the conquest of Babylon. In Babylonian, it states how every man, woman and child would be free to practise their culture and religion.)