Little Cyrus, in Mandane's warm embrace, gazed at his mother's beautiful face with curious eyes and an active mind. Mandane, the Median princess, with her graceful stature and curly black hair peeking from beneath her silk scarf, and with large, captivating eyes, was a personification of the beauty of Aryan women of that era. Her skin was as delicate as spring petals, and she had gentle hands that caressed him with kindness. Every movement she made displayed a dignity and nobility befitting her status in the Median royal family. Cyrus, in his mind, thought of this woman's beauty; a beauty that was not merely outward but stemmed from a soul brimming with affection and faith.
But Cyrus's mind went beyond his mother's physical beauty. The story Mandane had narrated about Anahita had sparked a thought in his mind. Cyrus recalled how Iranian culture and beliefs had intertwined with and transformed other cultures throughout history. He thought about the migration of Aryan tribes to the Iranian plateau and their interaction with the earlier and indigenous civilizations of this land. Before the arrival of the Aryans, this land was home to ancient civilizations like Elam in the southwest and the influential cultures of Mesopotamia (Babylon and Assyria). He knew that the Aryans had absorbed many of these cultures and beliefs and, over time, adapted them to their own worldview.
Cyrus's mind traveled to the concept of "Anahita" and how its meaning evolved during the Aryan migration. He recalled that in the eastern regions of the Iranian plateau, especially the Khwarezm region (Khorasan), which was the origin of Zoroaster and the Aryans, the name "Anahita" (rooted in the Avestan word "Arədvī Sūrā Anāhitā" meaning "strong, immaculate, and pure") was primarily associated with the purity and immaculateness of waters. This goddess symbolized pure rivers and flowing waters that brought life and purification, and her name might have been derived from the Herat River (Hari-Rud).
However, when the Aryan tribes migrated to the western foothills of the Zagros and mingled with the rich cultures of Mesopotamia and the Elamites, the concept of Anahita also underwent change and evolution. Cyrus visualized this cultural exchange in his mind: how the goddess of pure waters, upon encountering the militaristic and heroic cultures of the region, transformed into a symbol of courage and valor. He remembered how, in later texts, Anahita was described with warlike attributes and the ability to grant victory in battles.
This evolution, in Cyrus's mind, was a clear example of the dynamism of cultures. He knew that Anahita had become a symbol of fertility, protection, health, and victory in battles. This shows how a religious concept, upon entering a new cultural context, acquires new dimensions and aligns with the needs of that society, such as the need for fertility for tribal survival and victory in wars to preserve the land. This combination had enriched the beliefs of the Iranians.
Cyrus concluded that many Iranian beliefs and myths were products of this cultural fusion. He wondered how he could utilize this cultural dynamism in building his thousand-year empire. Not only through absorbing new ideas but also by allowing different cultures to preserve their identity, just as the historical Cyrus the Great did. It was in this way that he understood that the secret to an empire's stability lies not in forced uniformity but in tolerance and peaceful coexistence with cultural diversity.
Cyrus's mind, at this early age of childhood, was drawing plans that were far beyond his time. He looked at his mother, a personification of culture and authenticity, and pondered how he could, by using modern knowledge and a deep understanding of history and cultural dynamism, build an empire where all cultures and beliefs could grow and flourish together.