Choga Zanbil

An ancient Elamite site located near Susa in southwestern Iran. It is especially known for its remains dating to the Middle Elamite Period (c 1500-1000 BC), when the Elamite ruler Untash-Gal built a magnificent ziggurat, temples, and a palace. The remains of the ziggurat, the largest one known, are 335 feet (102 m) square and 80 feet (24 m) high, less than half its estimated original height. Other palaces, a reservoir, and the fortification walls have been excavated of the city, which was lavishly laid out but never completed. There are also a variety of small artifacts, including an excellent collection of Middle Elamite cylinder seals, and evidence of glass and glazes.

City near Susa in southwest Iran which was founded as a second capital of Elam in the 13th century bc by Untash-Gal, from whom it took its ancient name, Dur-Untash. The city was lavishly laid out but never completed; it declined in importance after the death of Untash-Gal. Excavations have exposed three concentric city walls, three palaces, a huge central ziggurat still surviving to a height of c28 metres but probably originally almost twice that height, other associated temples in the same complex and a reservoir.