home   :    index    :    picture archive
:   Iran   :    Susa    :    photos by Marco Prins ; text Jona Lendering ©

Susa (3)
Unless otherwise indicated, pictures on this page © Marco Prins and Jona Lendering. Photos can be downloaded and used for non-commercial purposes, but you have to acknowledge Livius.
Like the Achaemenid palaces of Persepolis, Ecbatana, and Dascylium (pictures), the palace of Susa was built on an impressive terrace. This picture shows the remains, seen from the south...
... and so does this picture, although this is seen from the southeast.
On top of the terrace, to the east of the palace, was a large gate, which must have resembled the Gate of all nations at Persepolis. Only the foundations were discovered. This gate is mentioned in the biblical Book of Esther. We could not find out how one reached the gate. There must have been a staircase, but where?
The great gate of Susa. Photo Marco Prins. Inside the gate, seen here from the east, were several columns that carried the roof.  
This picture shows the same gate, seen from the west. In front is the place where the statue of king Darius was found; it is now in the Archaeological Museum of Tehran.
The column bases contain an Achaemenid royal inscription that is known as XSd, and says: "King Xerxes says: By the grace of Ahuramazda, king Darius, my father, built this portico."
Map of Susa. Design Jona Lendering. A map of the palace of Darius (white), the palace of Artaxerxes II Mnemon, the Acropolis, the Royal city, and the Donjon. The quarters of the artisans was to the east.
 home   :   index    :    Iran