The so-called Elamite Middle Period, an era…
1245 BCE to 1234 BCE
The so-called Elamite Middle Period, an era of increasing power and prosperity which began around 1500 BCE, sees a surge of spectacular architecture and sculpture at such Elamite centers as Dur-Untash which means 'town of Untash' (present-day Chogha Zanbil, near Susa), built by Untash-Napirisha.
Built mainly to honor the great god Inshushinak, its original name was Dur Untash, but it is unlikely that many people, besides priests and servants, ever live here.
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 dies before they can be finished, and his successors discontinue the building work.
In the outer area are royal palaces, a funerary palace containing five subterranean royal tombs.
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.
Petroleum exploration in the region today 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 three hundred meters away from the ziggurat, which is considered to be the best preserved example in the world.