Chogha Zanbil  

Ancient Iran has been termed as the juncture of ethnic groups and religions; an enormous land thereby people from east and west came together. Over the millennia, it has acted as a symbol of global cultures and civilizations.

Here in the country, you can witness the traces from great religions Zoroastrianism, Manitoba, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam. And so there are copious mosques, fire temples, synagogues and churches throughout the land.

Chogha Zanbil, the best iconic structure in Susa, Khuzestan Province, southwest of the country, is a must-see site. A prominent World Heritage Site, its construction all began in 1250 BC at the time of Elamites and was unfinished due to Assyrian invasions.

Known as Ziggurat Dūr Untash in the ancient kingdom of Elam, it was committed by the King Untash-Napirisha to pay tribute to the god Inshushinak and worship other gods. Town of Untash was surrounded by walls with a set of temples for gods. It also held 2 inner and outer supporting walls. On the east of the town, majestic palaces were placed and on the northwest there was a huge water cistern.

Town’s centerpiece is the multi-storey massive temple, only 2 floors of which are still remaining.  The square building, 105 m in length and width, was 52 m high. Residents of Susa, the capital town for the Elamites, believed that god went on to the heavens from this temple and came back here.

The mud brick structure represents the remarkable Iranian architecture long time ago. On bricks you can witness inscriptions in Elamite and Akkadian languages.

You might also see waterways in the spot; which suggest protection of town from floods in fertile lands of Khuzestan.

The Elamite structure was explored in 1933 and entirely excavated from 1951 to 1962. It is the first ancient architecture work from Iran which was registered in the UNESCO Heritage Site.