Hello all,
I'm doing a research project that requires me to look into Persian law, and particularly international law and diplomacy, and I've hit a dead end. I've found a whopping three sources, two by Wiesehofer, that seem to address the topic at all. Any help would be appreciated. I'm just looking very broadly for scholarly books and articles that address law and/or diplomacy, hopefully around Cyrus's time, but anything would do. Thanks so much.
A couple of thoughts. Now, keep in mind that given my flair, this is by no means my area of expertise.
First, what exactly are you doing? In what direction are you hoping to go?
My initial thought was to suggest that you comb Amelie Kuhrt's opus and see what her works cited has for you. It appears, however, what when she's not writing massive two volume histories of the entire Near East, she's a scholar of Persia. Check out her bibliography. There appear to be a number of sources that would help you, at least obliquely. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am%C3%A9lie_Kuhrt
Also, I would look at the legal traditions of the Near East leading up to the Achaemenid period. Cyrus was fairly "new" so to speak when he came to power. He would have wanted to build on the older traditions so as not to seem like such a radical break. Hammurabi's code was discovered in Susa after all.
Finally, if you're looking at international law and diplomacy, look for discussions of Thucydides and Persian intervention in the Peloponnesian war. It may not be what you're looking for, but maybe if you follow the footnotes...?
Hopefully someone out there is more knowledgeable than I am.