Susa Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Susa
History
شوش

Location in Iran Show map of Iran Location in West and Central Asia Show map of West and Central Asia
Location	Shush, Khuzestan Province, Iran
Region	Zagros Mountains
Coordinates	32°11′26″N 48°15′28″E / 32.19056°N 48.25778°E / 32.19056; 48.25778
Type	Settlement
Founded	Approximately 4200 BCE
Abandoned	1218 CE
Events	Battle of Susa
Site notes
Condition	Abandoned and in ruins

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Susa
Criteria	Cultural: i, ii, iii, iv
Inscription	2015 (39th Session)

Susa (Ancient Greek: τά Σοῦσα) was a very old city in Iran. It was an important place for several powerful groups. These included the Elamites, Persians, and Parthians. They all built their empires around this area.

Susa was located in the lower Zagros Mountains. It was about 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of the Tigris River. The city sat between the Karkheh and Dez Rivers. This made it a good spot for trade and farming.

The ancient city site covers about one square kilometer. It has three large hills, or "mounds." These are called the Apadana mound, the Acropolis mound, and the Ville Royale (royal town) mound. Each mound holds secrets from different times in Susa's history.

Today, the modern Iranian town of Shush stands where ancient Susa once was. Shush is believed to be the same place as Shushan. This name is mentioned in the Book of Esther and other old books.

What Was Susa Like?
Why Was Susa Important?
Images for kids
See also

What Was Susa Like?

Susa was one of the oldest cities in the world. People lived there as early as 4200 BCE. This means it was a busy place for thousands of years. It was a center for culture, trade, and power.

Early History of Susa

Susa started as a small settlement. Over time, it grew into a large city. It became the capital of the Elamite kingdom. The Elamites were a powerful group in ancient Iran. They had their own writing system and art.

Archaeologists have found many amazing things in Susa. These include pottery, tools, and clay tablets. These items tell us about the daily lives of the people. They also show how advanced the Elamite culture was.

Susa Under Persian Rule

Later, Susa became very important to the Persian Empire. It was one of their main capital cities. Famous Persian kings like Darius the Great built grand palaces there. These palaces were known for their beautiful decorations.

The Persian kings used Susa as a place to rule their vast empire. People from many different lands came to Susa. This made it a diverse and busy city. It was a hub for trade routes and political decisions.

Susa in Later Empires

After the Persians, Alexander the Great conquered Susa. He even held a famous mass wedding there. Later, Susa was part of the Seleucid Empire. This was a Greek kingdom that ruled parts of Asia.

Susa continued to be important under the Parthian and Sasanian empires. It was a key city for trade and administration. The city finally declined and was abandoned around 1218 CE.

Why Was Susa Important?

Susa was important for many reasons. Its location made it a natural meeting point. It connected different cultures and trading networks. It was a bridge between the ancient Near East and the Iranian plateau.

The city also played a big role in history and religion. It is mentioned in ancient texts, including the Bible. This shows its lasting impact on the world. Today, Susa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it is a special place that needs to be protected.

Images for kids

Map showing the area of the Elamite kingdom (in red) and the neighboring areas. The approximate Bronze Age extension of the Persian Gulf is shown.
Site of Susa
Assyria. Ruins of Susa Brooklyn Museum Archives, Goodyear Archival Collection
Goblet and cup, Iran, Susa I style, 4th millennium BC - Ubaid period; goblet height c. 12 cm; Sèvres – Cité de la céramique, France
Globular envelope with the accounting tokens. Clay, Uruk period (c. 3500 BCE). From the Tell of the Acropolis in Susa. The Louvre
Silver cup from Marvdasht, Iran, with a linear-Elamite inscription from the time of Kutik-Inshushinak. National Museum of Iran
The marriages of Stateira II to Alexander the Great of Macedon and her sister, Drypteis, to Hephaestion at Susa in 324 BC, as depicted in a late-19th-century engraving.
Letter in Greek of the Parthian king Artabanus III to the inhabitants of Susa in the 1st century CE (the city retained Greek institutions since the time of the Seleucid empire). Louvre Museum.
Glazed clay cup: Cup with rose petals, 8th–9th centuries
Anthropoid sarcophagus
Lion on a decorative panel from Darius I the Great's palace
Marble head representing Seleucid King Antiochus III who was born near Susa around 242 BC.
Glazed clay vase: Vase with palmtrees, 8th–9th centuries
A tablet showing the destruction of Susa by Ashurbanipal in 647 BC
Winged sphinx from the palace of Darius the Great at Susa.
Tomb of Daniel
Ninhursag with the spirit of the forests next to the seven-spiked cosmic tree of life. Relief from Susa.
19th-century engraving of Daniel's tomb in Susa, from Voyage en Perse Moderne, by Flandin and Coste.
Archers frieze from Darius' palace at Susa. Detail of the beginning of the frieze, left. Louvre Museum.
Ribbed torc with lion heads, Achaemenid artwork, excavated by Jacques de Morgan, 1901
Shush Castle, 2011
Children in Susa
Herm pillar with Hermes, from the well of the "Dungeon" in Susa.

Susa facts for kids

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