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Choqa Zanbil)
A model of the current Chogha Zanbil ziggurat, showing the other buildings in the vicinity of the main structure.
Chogha Zanbil (Persian: چغازنبيل) is an ancient Elamite complex in the Khuzestan province of Iran. It is one of the few extant ziggurats outside of Mesopotamia. It lies approximately 25 kilometeres west Dezfoul, 45 kilometres south of Susa and 230 kilometres north of Abadan by way of Ahvaz, which is 120 kilometres away.
It was built about 1250 BC by the king Untash-Napirisha, mainly to honor the great god Inshushinak. Its original name was Dur Untash, which means 'town of Untash', but it is unlikely that many people, besides priests and servants, ever lived there. The complex is protected by three concentric walls which define the main areas of the 'town'. The inner area is wholly taken up with a great ziggurat dedicated to the main god, which was built over an earlier square temple with storage rooms also built by Untash-Napirisha. The middle area holds eleven temples for lesser gods. It is believed that twenty-two temples were originally planned, but the king died before they could be finished, and his successors discontinued the building work. In the outer area are royal palaces, a funerary palace containing five subterranean royal tombs.
Although construction in the city abruptly ended after Untash-Napirisha's death, the site was not abandoned, but continued to be occupied until it was destroyed by the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal in 640 BCE. Some scholars speculate, based on the large number of temples and sanctuaries at Chogha Zanbil, that Untash-Napirisha attempted to create a new religious center (possibly intended to replace Susa) which would unite the gods of both highland and lowland Elam at one site.
Archaeological excavations undertaken between 1951 and 1962 revealed the site again, and the ziggurat is considered to be the best preserved example in the world. In 1979, Chogha Zanbil became the first Iranian site to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
[edit] Threats to Chogha Zanbil
Petroleum exploration in the region threatens the very foundations of the site, as various seismic tests have been undertaken to explore for reserves of petroleum. Digging for oil has been undertaken as close as 300 meters away from the ziggurat.[1]
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 Khuzestan Province |
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Abadan's museum · Gundishapur · Acropole of Shush · Apadana in Susa · Arjan castle, Behbahan · Asak ancient city, Hendijan · Chagadom tappe fire temple · Chogha Mish Proto-Elamite site · Chogha Zanbil · Dav o Dokhtar castle, Ramhormoz · Dez Dam · Gargar bridge, Shushtar · Hoor-al-azim lagoon · Imamzadeh Roudband, Dezful · Imamzadeh Sabz-e-ghaba, Dezful · Khorramshahr mosque, Battle of Khorramshahr · Koolfarah engraving, Izeh · lake of Karkheh dam · Lake of Karun · Lali bridge · Meyangaran lagoon · Rangooni's mosque · Salasel castle, Shushtar · Shadegan lagoon · Shevi waterfall, Dezful · Shush-Daniel · Shushtar historical hydraulic system · Shushtar Watermills · Susa · Taryana · Tobiron valley, Dezful · Tomb of Daniel, Shush · White bridge, Ahvaz · Ya'qub-i Laith's tomb, Dezful
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Coordinates: 32°0′30″N 48°31′15″E / 32.00833°N 48.52083°E / 32.00833; 48.52083
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
