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Secondary sourcePainting1766

The Beheading of Cyrus

Jean-Simon Berthélemy · 1766

A 1766 painting by Jean-Simon Berthélemy depicting the legendary death of Cyrus the Great at the hands of Queen Tomyris.

This 18th-century painting imagines the legendary beheading of Cyrus by Queen Tomyris.

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Painting of a classical scene: a woman in a white and blue gown and plumed helmet points at a severed head in a golden basin, while a dead nude body lies on the ground. A kneeling soldier in red and armor holds a blade. Columns and a bearded elder stand nearby.
Jean-Simon Berthélemy, The Beheading of Cyrus, 1766.

About this source

What it is

This oil painting was made in 1766 by the French artist Jean-Simon Berthélemy. It shows a classical scene with a queen pointing at a severed head in a basin, while a dead body lies nearby and a soldier kneels with a blade.

Why it matters

The painting reflects the 18th-century fascination with ancient history and classical legend. It retells the story of Cyrus's death at the hands of Queen Tomyris, a tale found in ancient sources, showing how later generations imagined and dramatized the ends of great rulers.

Look closer

  • What details in the painting suggest the artist wanted to shock or move the viewer?
  • How does the composition direct your eye toward the severed head?
  • Why do you think this ancient legend remained popular centuries later?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Cyrus the Great on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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