Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat – Shoosh (Susa)

Chogha Zanbil is an ancient temple belonging to Elam civilization that ruled 3500 BC. Chogha Zanbil is remained from Dur Untash City (Town of Untash), and it is located near Susa (ancient city) in Khuzestan Province. This monument lies in Khuzestan Province, southeast of Susa. It was constructed in 1250 BC by Untash-Napirisha, the great king of Elam, mainly to honor the great god Inshushinak, the Susa’s guard. The monument, along with Elam Civilization, was destroyed during Assyrian Ashurbanipal’s attack an hidden under the ground until the contemporary period when Roman Ghirshman, the French archaeologist who specialized in ancient Iran, excavated it. It was initially 52 meters high and consisted of 5 floors. Today, it is 25 meters high and only to and a half floors of it have remained. Chogha Zanbil’s infrastructure was a 105 105 square, i.e. twice as big as a soccer field. This structure is the first historical monument in Iran that was registered in UNESCO World Heritage in 1979. The world appreciates Chogha Zanbil as a valuable monument. Orientalists consider Chogha Zanbil as the first religious building in Iran. It is the biggest ziggurat in the world.