Elam

Elam (Elamite Haltamtu; Persian Huwaja; Greek Susiana or Elymais; Sumerian and Hebrew Elam), kingdom of ancient Asia, situated north of the Persian Gulf and east of the River Tigris, and corresponding approximately to the present-day province of Khuzestan, Iran. The capital of Elam was Susa, today the city of Shūsh. Other leading cities included Awan, Simash, Madaktu, and Dur-Untash, the site of present-day Choga Zambil, Iran. During various periods of Elamite history the rulers entitled themselves “kings of Anshan and Shushan”. Anshan has been positively identified with present-day Tappeh Marjān in south-western Iran.

The site of one of the earliest civilizations, Elam dates from the 6th millennium bc. The inhabitants, known as the Elamites, spoke an agglutinative language unrelated to the Sumerian, Semitic, or Indo-European languages. After 3000 bc the Elamites, influenced by the system of writing developed by the neighbouring Sumerians, began to record their language in a native semipictographic script known as Proto-Elamite. About 2300 bc this script was replaced by the cuneiform of the Sumerians and Akkadians.

From early times Elam influenced the politics of neighbouring Mesopotamia. The Elamites destroyed the city of Ur about 2000 bc. Subsequently they exerted great influence on the rulers of Babylonia. After the capture in 1595 bc of Babylonia by the Kassites, however, the country suffered a political decline for about 350 years.

Elam experienced a political revival under King Shutruk-Nahhunte I (reigned about 1160 bc), who conquered Babylonia, deposed the Kassite dynasty, and placed his son on the throne. King Shilhak-Inshushinak (reigned about 1140 bc), a great administrator and patron of art and learning, created the first Elamite empire. Under his rule the borders were greatly extended, the literary use of the Elamite language was revived, and an architectural and sculptural renaissance took place. After his death Elam was conquered by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar I (reigned about 1125-1103 bc). A new Elamite kingdom appeared about the middle of the 8th century, but it was subjected to constant attacks by Assyria. About 645 the Assyrians, under the leadership of Ashurbanipal, sacked Susa and annexed the country. Subsequently Elam was overrun by Media. Cyrus the Great of Persia finally incorporated it into his empire.

The native language of Elam was used for administrative purposes until about the 4th century bc; thereafter it probably was used only as a spoken vernacular. According to Arabic writings, the Elamite language continued to be spoken in what is now Khuzistan until about the 10th century ad.