-1 101 Z Susa was the ancient capital of the Elamites, destroyed by the Assyrians in 647 BC. Under the Achaemenids it became the administrative centre of the whole empire and was strategically situated on the Royal Road which ran from the Zagros mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. Susa remained an important city well into the Islamic period.
#Susa
1 101 X The earliest settlement was on the Acropolis mound, dating back to around 4000 BC. Several important inscribed stones have been found here, including the Law Code of Hammurabi (an important Babylonian king, 1792-1750 BC), brought to Susa as booty from Elamite campaigns in Mesopotamia. Conflicts between Elamites and Mesopotamians culminated in the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal's sack of Susa in 647 BC.
#Acropolis
5 101 X The Royal City was once a suburb of the Acropolis. Covering an area of 550,000 square metres, it housed merchants, artisans and court functionaries. The city flourished under the Achaemenids, Darius I making it his administrative capital.
#Royal City
7 101 X The Artisans town lies east of the other three mounds. It was a suburb built under the Achaemenids and it testifies to the expansion of the city during their rule. It was occupied up to the Islamic era.
#Artisans Town
2 101 X The main Achaemenid building in Susa was the royal palace of Darius I (522-486 BC). Its rooms were grouped around open courtyards, but its principal feature was a columned hall called the 'Apadana'.
#Apanda
3 101 X The palace was a blend of many styles, particularly Mesopotamian and Iranian. Its walls were richly decorated with glazed brick reliefs of soldiers and animals. In a foundation inscription, Darius had listed the people and the materials involved in the palace's construction: this shows the contribution made by the whole empire and the immense resources available to the king.
#Palace, Glazed tiles depicting archer
4 101 X In the 1970s, a monumental gatehouse was uncovered 260 ft (80 m) east of Darius' palace. It stood 130 ft (40 m) high and 90 ft (28 m) wide. An inscription was found, stating 'Xerxes the king says, "by the grace of Ahura Mazda, this gate, Darius the king made it, he who was my father." '.
