Anshan (Persia)

Anshan (Elamite cuneiform: 𒀭𒍝𒀭 Anzan; Sumerian: 𒀭𒊓𒀭𒆠 Ansanᴷᴵ, 𒀭𒊭𒀭𒆠 Anšanᴷᴵ) modern Tall-e Malyan (Persian: تل ملیان), also Tall-i Malyan, was an Elamite and ancient Persian city. It was located in the Zagros Mountains in southwestern Iran, approximately 46 kilometres (29 mi) north of Shiraz and 43 kilometres (27 mi) west of Persepolis in the Beyza/Ramjerd plain, in the province of Fars.

It was one of the earliest urban states to exist, and one of the earliest capitals of Elam from the late 4th millennium BC. It fell under the rule of the Persians in the 7th century BC and then became one of the early capitals of Persia.

Most of what is known about Anshan has been discovered through ancient artifacts discovered in archaeological digs at Tall-e Malyan and passages in early Mesopotamian and Elamite texts.

History

Anshan is considered to be the origin of one of the world's oldest known civilizations. It was occupied continuously from before 4000 BC to 1000 BC and was politically tied to the Elamites at Susa, as well as the Mesopotamians. Its exact location was unknown to scholars until 1973 when artifacts, uncovered through archaeological digs at Tall-i Malyan, confirmed its location. Prior to that scholars only knew of it to be somewhere in the central Zagros mountain range.

During the Proto-Elamite period (late fourth millennium BC), it became one of the main cities of the region, thanks to its location on important trade routes. During the 'Banesh period' (3400–2800), at 50 hectares (120 acres), it was 5 times the size of Susa.