Chogha Zanbil is an ancient Elamite religious complex located in southwestern

Описание: Chogha Zanbil is an ancient Elamite religious complex located in southwestern Iran near the city of Susa. Built around 1250 BCE by the Elamite king Untash-Napirisha, it was originally known as Dur-Untash (“Fortress/City of Untash”) and served as a major ceremonial and religious center rather than a residential city.

Its main structure is a large ziggurat, one of the best-preserved in the world. The original height likely reached 50–55 meters, with a square base of about 105 meters on each side; today about 24–25 meters remain. The complex also included temples, palaces, and three concentric defensive walls, covering roughly 100 hectares.

Chogha Zanbil was dedicated primarily to the gods Inshushinak and Napirisha, reflecting the spiritual and cultural identity of the Elamite civilization. The site demonstrates advanced engineering, urban planning, brickwork, and water-management systems used more than 3,000 years ago.

The site was discovered in 1935 and later excavated extensively between the 1950s and 1960s by the French archaeologist Roman Ghirshman, revealing its architecture, inscriptions, and sophisticated construction techniques. Chogha Zanbil was partially destroyed around 640 BCE during the Assyrian invasion under Ashurbanipal.

In 1979, it became the first Iranian site to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognized for its exceptional preservation and historical importance. Today it stands as one of the most significant archaeological landmarks of ancient Iran and a key source for understanding the Elamite


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