Ziggurat of Chogha Zanbil

 The Ziggurat of Chogha Zanbil is an ancient temple complex located in the Khuzestan province of southwestern Iran.

It is one of the best-preserved examples of an ancient ziggurat, a type of stepped pyramid-shaped structure that was commonly used as a religious temple in ancient Mesopotamia.

Chogha Zanbil was built by the Elamites, an ancient civilization that flourished in the region from around 2700 to 539 BCE. 

The construction of the ziggurat began around 1250 BCE under the rule of King Untash-Napirisha. It was dedicated to the Elamite god Inshushinak, as well as other deities worshiped by the Elamite people.

The ziggurat was originally a seven-tiered structure made of mud bricks and covered in baked bricks. It reached a height of about 52 meters (170 feet) and had a square base measuring approximately 105 meters (345 feet) on each side. The outer walls were decorated with colorful glazed bricks, depicting various religious and mythological scenes.

Chogha Zanbil was not only a religious site but also a political and economic center for the Elamite civilization. It had a surrounding complex that included a royal palace, storerooms, administrative buildings, and residential areas for priests and officials.

Unfortunately, the city and the ziggurat were abandoned and fell into ruins after the Assyrian invasion of the region in 640 BCE. 

Over time, the site was buried under layers of sediment, which helped preserve the ziggurat and protect it from further deterioration.

Excavations at Chogha Zanbil began in the early 20th century, and the site was eventually designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.