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{{Icons|Start|OM}}
{{Infobox religious text
|letname = Book of Cyras
|previouslink = Book of Lywin
|previousletter = Lywin
|nextlink = Book of Drann
|nextletter = Drann
|image    = Cyras challenges King Tersakouri.jpg
|caption = Cyras challenges King Tersakouri
|religion = [[Rydil]]
|author = Griall of Mafyn
|language = [[Grelynese language|Grelynese]]
|period = Classical antiquity
|chapters = 15
|verses = 181
|category = Historical
}}The '''Book of Cyras''' ([[Grelynese language|Grelynese]]: ''Cyras Wal Bwayand''), often called the '''Epic of Cyras''', the '''Reign of Cyras''', or simply '''Cyras''' is the twelfth book of the [[Rydil]]ist [[Cwenga]] that details the early life and reign of King Cyras, the legendary patriarch of the Grelynese people, before the Grelyssians arrived to [[Grelyssia]]. Although the book bears the namesake of the king, it only covers the very beginning, incipient stages of his reign, which are further documented and expounded upon in the books of the Kings and Prophets arc. In the central Rydilist narrative, it covers the time period when the Grelynese inhabited their ancestral homeland in the slave-owning kingdom of [[Niani]], and when they made their exodus out to the Land of Perpetual Snowfall (present-day Grelyssia). It aims to explain the Grelynese people's relationship with [[Mondion]], the Wind God, who is regarded as their deliverer and guardian, by drawing parallels with the earthly king Cyras. According to Rydilist tradition, the book, which was originally transmitted orally by villager storytellers, was compiled and written by Griall of Mafyn, a 9th century scribe.

It is one of the most significant works and religious literature from the Grelynese classical antiquity period and functions as an important {{W|myth}} to the Rydilist faith and historiography. It teaches concepts such as devotion to the Rydilist God, reverence for righteous leaders, concepts of angels, demons, and spirits, the special relationship between God and His people, the necessity of {{W|animal sacrifice}}, the importance of abiding by the Ancient Laws, and the mortality of men. 

==Structure and content==

===Summary===

====In Niani====
[[File:Cyras the Prophet.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Cyras]], the central figure of the book]]
The Grelyssians, who have inhabited Niani for centuries, have been blessed by Mondion with riches, success, and fortunes. They are called the "Children of Mondion" and among them include a number of Grelyssian men who hold high-ranking government posts in the Niani government. This material wealth and affluence angers the political elite of Niani, as well as the native Niani, who petition to King Tersakouri to disenfranchise the Grelyssians and enslave them. The king initially refuses, claiming that the Grelyssians have been righteous and industrious people, and believes that their god, Mondion, has permitted this. 

The princes of Niani then conspire to discredit the righteousness of the Grelyssians by plotting a conspiracy to assassinate the king, and then arranging a Grelyssian named Nakwid, to be framed for the conspiracy. Nakwid is the imprisoned son of a Grelyssian lieutenant, and has pledged to betray his own people in exchange for amnesty for his past crimes and safe passage to a distant land. The princes, cloaked in the traditional attire of the Grelyssians and ceremonial masks, overtake the imperial guards and move to kidnap King Tersakouri, and plan to take him to Nakwid. Their plot is thwarted however, when Mondion tells a Grelyssian warrior, Cyras, about the plan and commands him to intervene. 

Cyras and his men are able to capture Nakwid before the princes arrive with the bound King Tersakouri. Mondion then commands Cyras to kill Nakwid for his betrayal against the Grelyssian nation, but upon hearing Nakwid's pleas, Cyras goes against Mondion's will and spares Nakwid. Cyras' defiance against Mondion's order causes Mondion to deliver the Niani princes to Cyras and his men. There, they are overwhelmed by the forces of the princes. In the midst of confusion, the Grelyssians are defeated and forced to wear the princes' disguised cloaks, and then are revealed to a visually unobstructed King Tersakouri. The princes then claim that they had heroically saved the life of the king and revealed that Cyras and his men had sought to kill the king. They claim that Nakwid was their leader and that he planned to a Grelyssian uprising against the king.

The following day, King Tersakouri returns to the throne and agrees with the princes of Niani that the Grelyssians are unrighteous, and therefore condemned to slavery. He also decides that Cyras and his men should be enslaved as well, rather than executed, as he views that a life of slavery alongside one's brethren would be far more humiliating and punishing than death. Cyras attempts to defend his people and challenges King Tersakouri to prove if the Grelyssians were truly unrighteous by disputing the princes' narrative. He asserts that the Grelyssians had been wrongfully framed by the princes. Cyras explains his version of events and that Nakwid had conspired alongside the princes to defame the Grelyssians. The king is unconvinced and believes that the only way Cyras could prove the innocence of the Grelyssians would be to engage in a {{W|trial by combat}}. Cyras agrees and prays to Mondion for forgiveness and the strength to win. The princes select Daumadet, the strongest and most able-bodied of their men, to fight Cyras. In accordance to Niani customs and law, the accused is armed with only a wooden stick whereas the accuser is given a standard sword. Despite the severe disadvantage, Cyras is able to dodge Daumadet's attacks and is given the strength and precision by Mondion to drive the wooden stake into Daumadet's right eye, killing him.

With Cyras' victory, he has proven the innocence of himself, his men, and his people, and King Tersakouri declares that the Grelyssians have been able to prove their righteousness and guiltlessness. The Grelyssians celebrate in jubilation and Cyras is hailed as their hero. Mondion then speaks to Cyras in a dream, commanding him to never defy His orders, and to always trust in Him. Cyras praises Mondion and begs for forgiveness, and then pledges his complete devotion to God. Mondion then tells him to deliver his people out of Niani and march northward to the Land of Perpetual Snowfall, where He has set aside a land as a haven for the Grelyssians. Cyras reveals Mondion's plan for His children and thus begins the great migration out of Niani to the land Mondion has promised.

====Exodus to Grelyssia====

==Composition==

The Book of Cyras forms one of the central texts in the Rydilist [[Cwenga]] canon. It has been referenced and attested as a holy book since the 13th century. Ancient historians have commonly attributed the authorship of the Book of Cyras to Griall of Mafyn, a 9th century scribe who was a court official of King [[Lawaylden II]]. The historicity of the Book of Cyras as a historical event has been disputed by modern scholars and historians, although the historicity of King Cyras has been unchallenged. The Book shares elements to the ''Dendras'', a series of Rydilist stories and parables which were traditionally transmitted between clan elders and orators prior to their written documentation beginning in the 13th and 14th centuries.

==Theology==

==Interpretations==

==See also==
{{Wikibooks|Book of Cyras}}
*[[Cwenga]]
*[[Cyrumas]]
{{Origo Mundi}}
[[Category:Rydil]]
[[Category:Rydilist Cwenga books]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Origo Mundi]]