Take A Trip To Shush To Visit Chogha Zanbil

You should visit Chogha Zanbil in Iran to see how awesome this ancient Elamite construction is still standing outside Shush. It is one of the few ziggurats in the world outside Mesopotamia. Located 30 km away from Susa, the place literally refers to a basket mound. Untash Napirisha built this structure in 1250 BC as a dedication to the God Inshushinak. Also known as Dur Untash, it was the residence of many priests. There are three concentric walls surrounding the complex which defines the primary area of the town. The ziggurat occupies the inner area and was built for the main god.

The Ziggurat

It is said that this ziggurat was built over another temple which was also constructed by Untash Napirisha. There are eleven temples in the middle area which are also dedicated to the lesser gods. Around twenty-two such temples were visualized but could not be completed as the king died before completion. The outer area contains the royal palaces, along with a special palace for the royal tombs. The death of Untash Napirisha brought all construction processes to an end which you can see when you visit Chogha Zanbil today. The ruins of the structure still exist today after Ashurbanipal, the Assyrian king, destroyed it in 640 BC.

Religious Site

During your trip to Shush, you will learn how Untash Napirisha tried to create a religious center at Chogha Zanbil. With so many sanctuaries and temples, the purpose may have been to get people of all kinds to worship the gods at one site. The ziggurat is a fine example of this effort. Itimplies something grand and beyond human realm where only gods could reside and look at their people from high above. This site is now listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

You can see the sections where sacrifices were made for the gods when you visit Chogha Zanbil. It was believed that the gods came closer to the humans here. There are five towers in this complex with inner ones higher and standing higher than the other ones. The canal which was built to supply water to the people here can still be seen in the vicinity of the temple.

The fact that the construction was left halfway can be observed from the unused bricks lying at the site. Many relics found during the excavations have been stored in Susa museum. There are cuneiform inscriptions on certain rows of the bricks during your trip to Shush.