Susa
Susa (/ˈsuːsə/ SOO-sə; Middle Elamite: 𒀸𒋗𒊺𒂗, romanized: Šušen; Middle and Neo-Elamite: 𒋢𒋢𒌦, romanized: Šušun; Neo-Elamite and Achaemenid Elamite: 𒀸𒋗𒐼𒀭, romanized: Šušan; Achaemenid Elamite: 𒀸𒋗𒐼, romanized: Šuša; Persian: شوش Šuš [ʃuʃ]; Hebrew: שׁוּשָׁן Šūšān; Greek: Σοῦσα Soûsa; Syriac: ܫܘܫ Šuš; Middle Persian: 𐭮𐭥𐭱𐭩 Sūš or 𐭱𐭥𐭮 Šūs; Old Persian: 𐏂𐎢𐏁𐎠 Çūšā) was an ancient city in the lower Zagros Mountains about 250 km (160 mi) east of the Tigris, between the Karkheh and Dez Rivers in modern day Iran. One of the most important cities of the Ancient Near East, Susa served as the capital of Elam and the winter capital of Achaemenid Empire, and remained a strategic centre during the Parthian and Sasanian periods.
شوش | |
Susa Shown within Iran Susa Susa (West and Central Asia) | |
| Location | Shush, Khuzestan Province, Iran |
|---|---|
| Region | Zagros Mountains |
| Coordinates | 32°11′26″N 48°15′28″E |
| Type | Settlement |
| Part of | Susa |
| History | |
| Founded | 4400 BC |
| Abandoned | 1218 AD |
| Events | Battle of Susa |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Abandoned and in ruins |
| Official name | Susa |
| Criteria | Cultural: i, ii, iii, iv |
| Reference | 1455 |
| Inscription | 2015 (39th Session) |
The site currently consists of three archaeological mounds, covering an area of around one square kilometre. The modern Iranian town of Shush is located on the site of ancient Susa. Shush is identified as Shushan, mentioned in the Book of Esther and other Biblical books.