Elam

An ancient kingdom of southwest Iran with its capital at Susa and other centers at Anshan and Dur-Untash. This broad valley of the Karkeh and Karun rivers was geographically an extension of the southern plain of Mesopotamia. Early on, it adopted writing and devised its own pictographic script (proto-Elamite) to suit its language; later it used Akkadian cuneiform. Politically the two regions were usually bitterly opposed and the Elamites overthrew the 3rd dynasty of Ur shortly before 2000 BC and raided as far as Babylon in the later 13th century BC. The Golden Age of Elamite civilization was c 1300-1100 BC, reaching its peak under Untash-Gal (c 1265-1245 BC), the builder of Choga Zambil. Raids into Mesopotamia brought the downfall of Kassite Dynasty in 1157 BC. The period was also remarkable for glass technology and bronze casting (cire perdue). Elam was absorbed into the Achaemenid empire in the 6th century BC, after falling to the Assyrians when Ashurbanipal sacked the city of Susa. Little is known about the Elamite language, which is not related to any known tongue and still not fully deciphered.

Important state in southern Iran with its capital at Susa. The development of civilization in this area closely paralleled that in Mesopotamia proper; for instance, writing appeared almost as early (see ProtoElamite), before 3000 bc, though later the Elamites were to take over cuneiform and adapt it to their language. The Elamites usually appear in the Mesopotamian texts as enemies, and indeed it was Elamite incursions that brought down the Third Dynasty of Ur late in the 3rd millennium bc. The high point of Elamite civilization was reached in the reign of Untash-gal, who extended the kingdom and invaded Kassite Babylonia. He also built a royal city at Choga Zanbil. The kingdom of Elam fell to the Assyrians when Ashurbani-pal sacked the city of Susa, c640 BC. The sculpture, bronze work and jewellery of the Elamites were of a high standard and demonstrate strong local styles, while sharing an overall similarity with Mesopotamian work. Little is known about the Elamite language, which is not related to any known tongue and still not fully deciphered.