the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:31–44). There is quite broad agreement among the Holy Fathers and modern scholars that the four kingdoms of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream refer to specific earthly empires. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem explained that “as the first kingdom [gold] which became renowned was that of the Assyrians, and the second [silver], that of the Medes and Persians together,