or SUSA, the ancient capital of Persia, seated on the river
Ulai, the modern Abzal. After the union of the kingdoms of Media and
Persia by Cyrus, Susa was made the winter residence of the kings of
Persia, from its southern position, and the shelter afforded by a range
of mountains on the north and east, which rendered the heat
insupportable in the summer season; while Ecbatana, in Media, from its
greater elevation, and more northern situation, was preferred at this
season, as being more cool and agreeable. Here the transactions occurred
related in the book of Esther. Here also Daniel had the vision of the
ram with two horns, and the goat with one horn, &c, in the third year of
Belshazzar’s reign. Susa was situated in the ancient province of Elam,
or Elymais, called also Susiana, and now forming a part of Kuzestan. It
has for several hundred years, like Babylon, been reduced to a heap of
undistinguished ruins. Mr. Kinneir says, “About seven or eight miles to
the west of Dezphoul, commence the ruins of Shus, stretching not less,
perhaps, than twelve miles, from one extremity to the other. They extend
as far as the eastern bank of the Kerah; occupying an immense space
between that river and the Abzal; and, like the ruins of Ctesiphon,
Babylon, and Kufa, consist of hillocks of earth and rubbish, covered
with broken pieces of brick and coloured tile. The largest and most
remarkable of these mounds stand at the distance of about two miles from
the Kerah. The first is, at the lowest computation, a mile in
circumference, and nearly a hundred feet in height; and the other,
although not quite so high, is double the circuit of the former. These
mounds bear some resemblance to the pyramids of Babylon; with this
difference, that instead of being entirely made of brick, they are
formed of clay and pieces of tile, with irregular layers of brick and
mortar, five or six feet in thickness, to serve, it should seem, as a
kind of prop to the mass. Large blocks of marble, covered with
hieroglyphics, are not unfrequently here discovered by the Arabs when
digging in search of hidden treasure; and at the foot of the most
elevated of the pyramids stands the tomb of Daniel, a small and
apparently a modern building, erected on the spot where the relics of
that prophet are believed to rest. The site of the city of Shus is now a
gloomy wilderness, infested by lions, hyænas, and other beasts of prey.
The dread of these furious animals compelled Mr. Monteith and myself to
take shelter for the night within the walls that encompass Daniel’s
tomb.” Of this tomb Sir John Malcom observes, that “it is a small
building, but sufficient to shelter some dervishes who watch the remains
of the prophet, and are supported by the alms of pious pilgrims who
visit the holy sepulchre. These dervishes are now the only inhabitants
of Susa; and every species of wild beast roams at large over that spot
on which some of the proudest palaces ever raised by human art once
stood.” He also observes, respecting the authenticity of this tomb, that
“although the building at the tomb of Daniel be comparatively modern,
nothing could have led to its being built where it is, but a belief that
this was the real site of the prophet’s sepulchre.”
Ulai, the modern Abzal. After the union of the kingdoms of Media and
Persia by Cyrus, Susa was made the winter residence of the kings of
Persia, from its southern position, and the shelter afforded by a range
of mountains on the north and east, which rendered the heat
insupportable in the summer season; while Ecbatana, in Media, from its
greater elevation, and more northern situation, was preferred at this
season, as being more cool and agreeable. Here the transactions occurred
related in the book of Esther. Here also Daniel had the vision of the
ram with two horns, and the goat with one horn, &c, in the third year of
Belshazzar’s reign. Susa was situated in the ancient province of Elam,
or Elymais, called also Susiana, and now forming a part of Kuzestan. It
has for several hundred years, like Babylon, been reduced to a heap of
undistinguished ruins. Mr. Kinneir says, “About seven or eight miles to
the west of Dezphoul, commence the ruins of Shus, stretching not less,
perhaps, than twelve miles, from one extremity to the other. They extend
as far as the eastern bank of the Kerah; occupying an immense space
between that river and the Abzal; and, like the ruins of Ctesiphon,
Babylon, and Kufa, consist of hillocks of earth and rubbish, covered
with broken pieces of brick and coloured tile. The largest and most
remarkable of these mounds stand at the distance of about two miles from
the Kerah. The first is, at the lowest computation, a mile in
circumference, and nearly a hundred feet in height; and the other,
although not quite so high, is double the circuit of the former. These
mounds bear some resemblance to the pyramids of Babylon; with this
difference, that instead of being entirely made of brick, they are
formed of clay and pieces of tile, with irregular layers of brick and
mortar, five or six feet in thickness, to serve, it should seem, as a
kind of prop to the mass. Large blocks of marble, covered with
hieroglyphics, are not unfrequently here discovered by the Arabs when
digging in search of hidden treasure; and at the foot of the most
elevated of the pyramids stands the tomb of Daniel, a small and
apparently a modern building, erected on the spot where the relics of
that prophet are believed to rest. The site of the city of Shus is now a
gloomy wilderness, infested by lions, hyænas, and other beasts of prey.
The dread of these furious animals compelled Mr. Monteith and myself to
take shelter for the night within the walls that encompass Daniel’s
tomb.” Of this tomb Sir John Malcom observes, that “it is a small
building, but sufficient to shelter some dervishes who watch the remains
of the prophet, and are supported by the alms of pious pilgrims who
visit the holy sepulchre. These dervishes are now the only inhabitants
of Susa; and every species of wild beast roams at large over that spot
on which some of the proudest palaces ever raised by human art once
stood.” He also observes, respecting the authenticity of this tomb, that
“although the building at the tomb of Daniel be comparatively modern,
nothing could have led to its being built where it is, but a belief that
this was the real site of the prophet’s sepulchre.”