In the broadest part of southwestern Iran, the ancient civilization of Elam took root from the third millennium BCE and for centuries ruled over a vast region, including parts of Lorestan, Khuzestan, Fars, Kurdistan, Kerman, and Bushehr. The Elamites were among the first peoples on the Iranian plateau to become familiar with writing, and the earliest examples of written works have been found in this land. This pioneering role in literacy and civilization granted Elam a special place in ancient history.
Throughout Elam's tumultuous history, we witnessed the formation of governments with various strategic centers. Important cities such as Awan, Shimashki, Anshan, and Susa each served as the capital or center of power for these dynasties during different periods. The shifting of these governmental centers often depended on political and military developments in Mesopotamia, indicating the reciprocal influence between Elam and its western neighbors. Among these regions, the land of Anshan, located in present-day Fars province, due to its geographical position, was less exposed to invasions by Mesopotamian rulers and gained significant importance in later interactions with the Persians.
Elamite history is divided into four main periods: Proto-Elamite (3400 – 2600 BCE), Old Elamite (2600 – 1500 BCE), Middle Elamite (1500 – 1100 BCE), and Neo-Elamite (1000 – 640 BCE). Each of these periods had its own characteristics and coincided with important dynasties in Mesopotamia. This governmental continuity for millennia made Elam one of the most stable and influential civilizations in the region.
Religion in Elam, like many ancient civilizations, was polytheistic. The Elamites believed in numerous gods and goddesses, each representing an aspect of nature or human life. Magnificent religious structures such as ziggurats, which were pyramidal and stepped buildings used as temples or ritual centers, attest to the grandeur of their religious beliefs in Elamite cities, especially in Chogha Zanbil.
In the Elamite pantheon, important deities such as Humban (god of the sky and lord of the gods), Kiririsha (the great mother goddess, who was very popular), and Inshushinak (the patron god of Susa and judge of the dead) were worshipped. The people of Elam turned to these deities to request blessings, protection, and victory in battles, and held special ceremonies and sacrifices for them.
Throughout its history, Elam exerted significant cultural and political influence in the region. They frequently interfered in Mesopotamian conflicts and power dynamics, and even as a strong military power, they altered the destiny of other civilizations. One of the most prominent military actions of the Elamites was their role in the destruction of the Sumerian civilization. Around 2000 BCE, the Elamites attacked the city of Ur, the Sumerian capital, devastating it and ending the rule of the Third Dynasty of Ur.
This victory elevated Elam as a regional power and showed that they were not merely an ancient civilization, but an active and sometimes destructive player on the political stage of the ancient Near East. However, these very interventions and conquests led Elam into continuous conflicts with emerging Mesopotamian powers, especially Assyria, throughout the centuries.
In the Neo-Elamite period, which will be the subject of future chapters, Elam faced greater challenges. At this time, in addition to the presence of new immigrant tribes like the Persians in the eastern part of their territory, we witnessed the powerful presence of the Assyrians in the west, who repeatedly subjected the land of Elam to their heavy invasions. These developments inextricably linked Elam's destiny to its powerful neighbors, including the Medes and the Assyrians.