Anshan

See also: Anshan (homonymy)

Anshan , Anzan or Anšan انشان is the old capital of the kingdom élamite during the periods high and average of this one, then the first capital of the Persian kings Achéménides. It corresponds to the current site of Such Malyân, which is in Iran, in the province of the Fars, close to the town of Shiraz.

Anshan is occupied as of. It becomes with the Period proto-élamite (fine of) one of the principal agglomerations of the country élamite, thanks to its situation on trade route of first importance. Between 2400 and 2000, kings d' Anshan are with the head of powerful kingdoms, and run up against the expansionism of Mésopotamiens (kings d' Akkad and of Ur). The sovereigns of the kingdom of Simashki dominate the kingdom élamite with, and do of Anshân one of the principal cities of Élam. Under the dynasty following, those of the sukkalmah, Anshân becomes with Suse one of the two capitals of Élam. This kingdom takes its character duel then, between the High-Country élamite, around Anshân, and Susiane strongly influenced by the tradition mésopotamienne. But the first keeps the primacy, as the titulature of the sovereigns of the period médio-élamite proves it (1500-1100), who appoint “kings d' Anšan and of Suse”.

Nevertheless, Anshân will never have the importance of Suse, and will remain a town of intermediate size, little clearing by the sovereigns élamites, and of this fact the excavations of Such Malyân were not the occasion of great discoveries, in spite of the invested means. That is due to the primarily wandering character of the High-Country élamite, where the principal places of worship of the large god élamite Napirisha are rupestral sanctuaries (like Izeh/Malamir and Kurangun), and where the population mainly remains wandering. The most important buildings put at the day relate to the period proto-élamite (two large building, administrative and the other artisanal one, with remainders of mural frescos with geometrical reasons and shelves proto-élamites), and the end of the period médio-élamite (a large building built by Hutelutush-Inshushinak, where one found shelves administrative in élamite).

To, the area of Anzan (new name of Anshân) passes to the hands Persians. Their sovereigns then take again on their account titulature of “kings d' Anšan”, as a seal in the name of Cyrus I attests it {{er}}. Its famous successor Cyrus II, founder of the Empire achéménide, made in the same way. But the city is quickly relegated to the second plan with constructions of the new Persian capitals to, Pasargades then Persépolis, unless the adopted titulature was not nominal any more (a manner of being attached to the local tradition élamite) only effective. The city is in any case abandoned during this period.

Bond Internet

http://home.columbus.rr.com/malyan/: site of the American archaeological team which excavated Such Malyan in the years 1970

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