Choqa Zanbil
Shrouded with speculations, myths, and copious history, the colossal stepped pyramidal temple of Choqa Zanbil is perhaps the greatest well-preserved ziggurat in the world. The great wonder is that no one knew what its interior for more than 2,500 years. To date, this is the only surviving ziggurat in Iran and considered as the most important remnant of the Elamite Civilization. Wedged between Dezfoul and Susa in the Khuzestan province, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was built by Untash-gal, the King of Elamin in 1250 B.C to honor the great god Inshushinak.
The grand bulk and splendid semi-desert landscape of Choqa Zanbil are sure to stir the interest and curiosity even of those who are not captivated by ancient ruins. Originally the Choqa Zanbil had five concentric turrets of varying heights serving as a temple for the worshippers and tombs for the royalties. The complex enclosure is also surrounded by subterranean tombs, paved courtyards and storehouses made from mud bricks. Choqa Zanbil was engineered brilliantly, maintaining the essential hierarchical pattern, with the inner area dedicated solely for the higher gods and the middle part intended for the lesser gods. Nonetheless, its vastness and advance architecture relieve the monotony of the Persian plain.
Various academicians provide evidence that the original plan was to construct 22 temples but Untash-gal died and the building work had to stop. Scholars also believe that the site was inhabited not only by the priests and servants of the Kings but also by a number of ethnic minorities such as Arabs, Lurs and the Turkic-speaking Qashqai and Afshari tribes. Among all the assumptions in relation to Choqa Zanbil, the most controversial is the speculation that the wealth of the temples in Choqa Zanbil attests to King Untash-gal's desire to create a new religion, which could unite all the superior gods.
While the theories attempt to explain the reasons for the construction of the site and the mysteries surrounding it, the extraordinary achievement of the Choqa Zanbil is reminding its people the ancient grandiose times of Iran.
