The Elamites, three historical eras

The Elamite is the name of a race other than the Aryans who lived in the west and southwest of Iran and their history dates back to about 5000 years ago. There are three history periods related to the Elamites.

The first traces of the Elamites were found around the year 2700 BC by the establishment of Avan dynasty in the southwest of Iran. Their homeland was named Elam with the capital of Susa which is in today Khuzestan province. This period lasted until 1600.

The middle Elamite period started with the dynasty of Anshanite around 1500 B.C. But with the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, the Elamites totally lost their power in 1100 B.C.

The neo-Elamite era begins right after the middle Elamite though very little is known about the beginning of this period and it continued until 646 B.C when the Ashurbanipal, the Assyrian king invaded Susa and got hold of Susa and the Elamites and for about 150 years Susa and the lands around were ruled by the Assyrians.

The most important monument remaining from the time of Elamite is Choghazanbil Ziggurat which had been the temple for the Elamite god, In-Shushinak.