Shush or Susa is one of the oldest cities in the world, which is located in Khuzestan province, and was built about 4000 BC. The city has been through much difficulties, and has experienced days of victory and defeat, boom and record, and development and destruction. With the fall of the Achaemenid Empire in 332 AD, it fell on a slide, and in the Middle Ages, it completely lost its prosperity and turned into a small village around the Tomb of Daniel the prophet.

Daniel is one of the Prophets of the Israelites who lived in Babylon in the 7th century BC. Prophet Daniel along with some of his Jewish people immigrated to land of Persia, and gradually resettled in the city of Susa. His descendant goes back to the fourth son of Jacob’s first wife. There is a belief “Nebuchadnezzar” king of Babylon took him into captivity and brought him to Persia. Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, and became the messenger sent from God.

The exact time of the Prophet Daniel’s life is unclear, but the last mention of Daniel in the Book of Daniel is in the third year of Achaemenid Cyrus. The exact burial place is also not clear as today six cities claim that the tomb exist there but the most famous one is in Susa. He died at the age of 83, and after being mummified, he was buried somewhere at the east of Shavur river (Shahpoor River).

The Tomb was built in 1833 by the order of the Shiite cleric, Ja’far Shushtari. There was a massive flood in the same year that damaged the tomb, and it had to be reconstructed. This place is famous for its double-layered Pineapple Dome that is not commonly found in Iran. The height of the dome is about 20 meters and its diameter is about 5 meters. It was built in Seljuk period, but apparently, the architects had ancient Persian style of architecture in their mind. The western side of the tomb is decorated with Iranian-Islamic tiles on which its written threshold of the holy prophet Daniel. On the eastern side, there are two minarets dating back to 1911.

In some books the prophet Daniel is referred as the prophet of the rain, some stories say after his death whenever people were in need of rain used to take his mummified body and pray over it for rain and by the grace of God it happened to rain.

“The book of Daniel” is the prophet’s book, which has 12 chapters in Hebrew, mostly talking about the memories of his life, the interoperation of dreams. In the last chapter, the name of a holy person is mentioned that will save the world. Shiites believe that during the presence of Imam Mahdi, four other prophet will accompany him; Daniel will be the commander of his army.

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Chogha Zanbil is a ziggurat dedicated to Inshushinak, the Elamite god. Ziggurat is a kind of stepped pyramid that its origin goes back to religion and the place of gods among human in Mesopotamia and areas around it like southwest of Iran.

Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat is one of the major archaeological sites in Iran that was created by the Elamite king Untash-Napirsha as a religious building around 13th century BC. According to the inscriptions on the exterior of Chogha Zanbil bricks, the whole construct was dedicated to Inshushinak, the lord of Elamite and Susa.

The ziggurat has a 100 * 100 m (330*330 ft.) base that serves as both a temple and a tomb.

It consists of five separately built concentric levels with varying elevation and each level was constructed directly from the ground.

This form of architecture (each level built from the ground and not over the previous layer) is what differentiates Chogha Zanbil and Mesopotamia ziggurats.

Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat Plan & Architecture

The top of temple was where the most important cultic rituals were performed. There were four gates with the southwestern gate being the main one. It was named imperial gate by Professor Roman Ghirshman (French archaeologist) which was connected to the top by side stairs. Only King and first-rate clergies were allowed to walk in these stairs. On both sides of the entrance gate, the statues of guardian bulls and winged griffins glazed in terracotta were placed.

Mud brick at the ancient Elamite complex of Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat

The monument was constructed using firebricks for the casing of structure and sun-dried bricks as filler. In the past, the exterior of the monument was decorated with blue and green glazed firebricks, inlaid ivory mosaics as well as opaque glass mosaics depicting prancing creatures.

Around the main ziggurat were other small shrines that were dedicated to other Elamite gods, the holy city was also protected by three layers of defensing walls.

Today, Chogha Zanbil lies approximately 40 km southeast of Susa and Khuzestan province. In 1979, UNESCO registered it as the first world heritage of Iran.

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The Zagros Mountains cover the northern areas of the province, while the southern regions are mostly covered by hills and plains. Khuzestan has mountainous and arid-desert climates in highlands and the lower regions, respectively.

The land of Khuzestan was somehow similar to the land of the Elam (Elamites) Empire (2700- 539 B.C.) and what makes them distinctive is the ancient city of Susa as an indication of the glory. Shapur I, one of the kings during the Sassanid Empire (224-651 A.D.), built the famous Band-e Shushtar and Gundeshapur city.

The latter was an international reputed educational center with scholars from Greece, Egypt, India, and Rome. After the seizure of Khuzestan by the Arabs following their invasion of Iran in 641 A.D., the region was ruined for a while. Ahvaz as one of the oldest cities in Iran was called “Hormoz Ardeshir” in ancient times. The city experienced its boom during the reign of Ardeshir, the first king of the Sassanid Empire following its selection as the capital of the Susiana (Khuzestan), while Susa was also a candidate.

When invaded by the Arabs, they entitled Ahvaz “Soq-Al-Ahvaz”, meaning the Khuzi market (Hozi). The Khuzi was a local ancient tribe of warriors that influences the name of the province. When the king Nasser-al-Din Shah of Qajar Dynasty (1796-1925) took the throne, a comprehensive peace was brought to the area and by his order, Naseri Port was built so as to develop the shipping industry in the Karun River; it was built next to old Ahvaz. However, Khuzestan suffered irreparable damages during the eight-year Iran-Iraq war from 1980 to 1988.

The significant natural attractions of the province include Karun, Karkheh, and Dez Rivers, attracting a significant number of domestic tourists to Khuzestan province. Shrine of Khezr, Ashkoft Kul-e Farah (Izeh), Shahsavar ancient site, and Shevi Waterfall are among other prominent attractions of Khuzestan. The religious rituals of the Mandaeans who follow John the Baptist and live along the Karun River are also one of the unique tourist attractions.

Importantly, the three sites of Chogha Zanbil holy temple from the Elamite civilization, the ancient city of Susa, and the Shushtar Hydraulic Structures have been registered as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Khuzestan handicrafts include carving on gold and silver, woodcarvings, handmade fabric, mat and Abba (a kind of religious costume) weaving. Different kinds of dates and southern fishes are souvenirs of the province, while fish and shrimp are the main ingredients of most Khuzestani dishes due to the closeness to the sea. Samosa, Falafel, Qaliyeh Mahi, Fried Shrimp, Shushtari rice and Hariseh are the most notable local foods.

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In some parts of the province people, especially Qashqai tribes, speak Turkish, while in some other parts, the Arabs speak Arabic. Because of the geographical extent of the province, its climate varies in the northern and southern regions. In highlands, the climate is mild; in the valleys and lowlands, it is moderate and warm, while in the southern parts of the province, the winters and summers are moderate and hot, respectively.

Historically, the Persian who formed their own local government under the support of the Medes in Pars (current Fars), became gradually more powerful and eventually Cyrus, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 B.C.), overthrew the Median Empire (678-549 B.C.). Cyrus and his successors formed a vast empire of the time and developed their power using a set of organized and decisive laws. The Achaemenid kings established and chose several cities as their capital such as Takht-e Jamshid or Persepolis, Susa, Babylon, and Ecbatana (Hamedan).

The palaces of the Achaemenid rulers are among the most significant masterpieces of ancient architecture, which their remains are in the ancient city of Parseh. When Babylon and Susa were under siege, Alexander the Macedonian attacked Persepolis, plundering, killing people, and firing the Achaemenid palaces. Years later during the Parthian Empire (247 B.C. – 224 A.D.), Darabgerd, a city in Fars province, was one of the centers of power. As the Parthian Empire declined, Ardashir Babakan rose in revolt, the man who finally founded the Sassanid Empire (224-651 A.D.).

Ya’qūb-i Layth-i Saffārī (Jacob) was the first Emir of the Saffarid Dynasty (861-1003) who seized Fars and chose Shiraz as his capital. Several dynasties including Buyid (934-1062), Seljuk (1037-1194), Salghurids (1148-1282), Mongol (1206-1368), Muzzafarid (1314-1393), Safavid (1501-1736), Afsharid, (1736-1796), and Zand (1751-1794) dominated also over the region. During the governance of Karim Khan Zand (reign: 1751-1779), a magnificent peace and prosperity were established in Fars, while in contrast, the province was damaged and destroyed significantly later due to the wars by Lotf Ali Khan Zand (reign: 1789-1794) and Mohammad Shah Qajar (reign: 1834-1848).

The land of Fars, both during the pre-Islamic and Islamic era, was the center of civilization and culture, containing a great number of historical monuments. Fars was in fact the first center where Persian civilization and culture were developed.

Out of its remained historical monuments and buildings include Persepolis, Pasargad, the historical city of Istakhr, Naqsh-e Rustam, Bishapur, Shapur cave, and the palaces and fire temples of Ardeshir. Importantly, Persepolis, Pasargad, Eram Garden, The Sassanid Archeological Landscape have been registered in UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The collection of Zandieh and Qajar constructs including Arg of Karim Khan, mosque and bathroom of Vakil, Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, and Qavam House as well as the shrine of Ahmad ibn Musa (Shah Cheragh) are among other important tourist attractions in the city of Shiraz.

The most important handicrafts in Fars province include wood carving, carpet weaving, glass blowing (in Meymand city), repoussage, handmade Khorjin (saddle), and Give-Doozi (in the city of Abadeh). Known native foods also include Kufteh Holoo, Kooft Sabzi, Salad Shirazi, Shirin polo (sweet rice), especial Aush for breakfast (Sabzi), Aush Kardeh, and Kalam polo Shirazi (cabbage and rice). When it comes to figures, Mansur al-Hallaj (the Persian mystic and poet) and two valuable Persian poets i.e. Saadi and Hafez are among the past celebrities of Fars province.

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