WBRZ - Baton Rouge

A 2,600 year old clay cylinder called the world's first human rights declaration will be shown for the first time in the U.S. at the Smithsonian's Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C. Its called the Cyrus Cylinder after the Persian King Cyrus who conquered Babylon and allowed freedom of worship. The cylinder confirms a story in the Bible of Cyrus releasing people held captive, which includes the Jews' return to Jerusalem. The tour is for one year with other exhibitions in Houston, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Its displayed with a book by Thomas Jefferson, who wrote about King Cyrus and how he inspired the founding fathers.