Director: Hamed Siasirad
Cast: Ahmad Hashemi
Cyrus the Great: Founder of the First Empire is a 2024 Iranian historical documentary directed by Hamed Siasirad, tracing how the founder of the Achaemenid dynasty rose from a regional king to the architect of the ancient world's most expansive empire — and why his legacy still resonates across religion, law, and human rights today.
What is Kourosh Kabir Payegozareh Avalin Emperatouri about?
Twenty-five centuries ago, a Persian king transformed the known world. This documentary follows the remarkable ascent of Cyrus, who united the Iranian plateau's competing tribes and then extended his reach across Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and beyond. The film examines the historical and scriptural record surrounding the king — including his extraordinary appearance in Isaiah 45 of the Hebrew Bible, where he is named as one chosen by God, and the long-running scholarly debate over whether the Quranic figure Dhul-Qarnayn echoes his story. Rather than mythologizing, the documentary grounds itself in archaeology, ancient texts, and scholarly analysis to reconstruct how one ruler became the first to govern a genuinely multi-ethnic, multi-faith empire — and why that model left a mark on every civilization that followed.
Cast & crew
The documentary is directed by Hamed Siasirad, an Iranian filmmaker working in the history and culture documentary space. Presenter Ahmad Hashemi guides viewers through the historical evidence, bringing clarity to sources ranging from cuneiform tablets to biblical passages. Together they frame complex historiography in an accessible, engaging way suited to a general Iranian-diaspora audience.
Context & significance
For Iranians living abroad, the story of Cyrus carries a weight that goes beyond national pride. The Cyrus Cylinder — often called the world's first charter of human rights — sits in the British Museum and stands as tangible proof of a governing philosophy built on tolerance and pluralism. In an era when the Iranian diaspora navigates questions of identity, history, and belonging, a documentary that carefully reconstructs this founding figure offers both intellectual grounding and cultural connection. The film arrives at a moment of renewed global interest in ancient Persian history, making it particularly timely for younger diaspora viewers encountering this heritage for the first time.
Where & how to watch
Cyrus the Great: Founder of the First Empire is available on K-Time. The film is in original Persian audio. Watch on the web, your TV, or your phone — no geo-blocking, no VPN required. Start and cancel anytime.