The phrase "ancient cylinder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a cylindrical object that is from a distant past, often in historical or archaeological contexts.
Example: "The archaeologists uncovered an ancient cylinder that contained inscriptions from a long-lost civilization."
Alternatives: "historic cylinder" or "old cylinder".
The ancient Cyrus Cylinder of Persia (modern-day Iran), on loan from London's British Museum, is a historical symbol of tolerance and freedom that has long been described as the first declaration of human rights.
There, on a table of Edison-abilia, sat some ancient phonograph cylinders, precursors to records and cassettes and CD's and so on.
Hiam told me about preserving sound recordings and showed me some ancient wax cylinders, including recordings made from the library's famous Mapleson Cylinders, the earliest known recordings of live performance at the Metropolitan Opera, in 1900-1904.
But its wraparound bookcases have been turned into vitrines for a permanent display of the Morgan's choice collection of ancient Near Eastern cylinder seals, along with Greek, Roman and early medieval European objects.
Among items in demand are ancient cuneiform tablets, cylinder seals, jars, coins, glass and particularly mosaics, which can be easily broken up and transported.
When it does come here, it will be one of 16 other objects from the British Museum that make up a show called "The Cyrus Cylinder in Ancient Persia," illustrating innovations initiated by Persian rule in the ancient Near East from 550 B.C. to 331 B.C. and the impact of the Persian Empire had on the ancient world.
"The Cyrus Cylinder in Ancient Persia," will open in March at the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington before traveling to the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
But such caution suggests that relations between the two countries will not improve fast.The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia: A New Beginning" will be at the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, until April 28th.
"The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia: A New Beginning," runs through Dec. 8.
The Cyrus Cylinder is an ancient clay cylinder, now broken into several fragments, on which is written a declaration in Akkadian cuneiform script in the name of the Persia's Achaemenid king Cyrus the Great.
