Susa

 Susa is the site of one of the oldest civilizations in the Middle East,dating back to 5,000 B.C. Archaeologists have worked at Susa for well over one hundred years , excavating the extensive remains which stretched from the 4th millennium B.C. to the early Islamic period. On the ruins of the Elamite capital that was destroyed by the Assyrians, Darius built this winter capital. The ruins of the Achaemenian palaces are still visible as the remains of the Apadana, which lent its name to the famous Apadana audience hall at Persepolis. At the height of its importance Susa claimed to be the capital of the world. The names of Darius and Susa are inextricably linked and it is here that his now famous headless statue ( now at Iran's National Meuseum) with Egyptian hieroglyphics on the base was found.

A broken bull capital is one of the few surface remains at Susa that recals the magnificense recorded in found ation tablets recovered from the palace of Darius on the Apadana mound. Other artifacts, clay inscriptions and pottery found at Susa are on display at a very good local meuseum.
  Another notable site in the city of Shush is an Elamite-style structure which is the tomb of the Old Testament prophet Daniel. Restored several times, it is still a place of pilgrimage for Jews,