Persia
32.4279°N, 53.6880°E View on Map
Persia (modern Iran) was a major empire that conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem. King Cyrus issued the decree permitting the temple's reconstruction. The books of Esther and Daniel are set partly in the Persian court. Nehemiah served as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes before returning to rebuild Jerusalem's walls.
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Biblical Significance
Instrument of Restoration
Persia was God's instrument for restoring Israel. Cyrus, called God's 'anointed' (Isaiah 45:1), fulfilled prophecy by allowing the Jews to return. The Persian period saw the rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem's walls.