Elam was an ancient kingdom of Asia, situated
north of the Persian Gulf and east of the Tigris
River, and corresponding approximately to the
present-day province of Khuzistan in Iran. The
capital of Elam and its most fabled city was Susa,
today the city of Shush. This powerful empire has
been overshadowed in history by the rival
kingdoms of Babylon and Assyria. However, the
Elamite Empire deserves to be placed in a list of
the world’s most important and influential
ancient cultures. Archaeological signatures for
the area exist as far back as the sixth millennium
B.C. The empire itself was founded in around
3200 B.C., and it lasted – in various guises –
almost continuously until the mid first
millennium B.C.; much of its history is also
documented using the world’s earliest
deciphered alphabet, which makes it of
extraordinary value to historians and
archaeologists. The earliest phases are somewhat
unclear.
The most extensively researched portions of the
sequence start with the Old Elamite Period (OEP),
which began around 2700 B.C. and saw the
conquest of Elam by Enmebaragesi of Kish. King
lists indicate a temporary domination of Sumer
(Iraq) by later dynasties within the OEP, although
Elam was herself briefly dominated by strong
Sumerian rulers. Struggles with the Akkadians
and repeated conquests in both directions
characterized much of the Avan Dynasty;
diplomatic relations between the Sumer and Elam
improved, but perhaps only because the former’s
power was waning. The Elamites sacked Ur in
2004 BC, and led Ibbi Sin into captivity. Later
dynasties in the OEP saw burgeoning power
structures throughout the Elamite Empire,
leading to the rise of the Anshanite dynasties
around 1500 B.C. and the arrival of the Middle
Elamite Period (MEP).
Akkadian influence waned during this period, and
Elamite gained strength; Elamite influence
likewise burgeoned, capturing and sacking cities
and artworks from the Babylonians and other
neighbours. The power of the empire waned
dramatically towards the end of the MEP with the
inbred king Khutelutush-In- Shushinak, who was
the product of his father and sister. Under his
unsteady rule, the Elamite Empire fell into
obscurity for almost three centuries, allowing
their foes to reclaim their territory and plunder.
The rise of the Neo- Elamite period is little
understood, but in time the empire regained its
former strength.
The figurine, depicting a truncated torso, the
face
with accentuated eye contours, small lips and
nose,
the front outlined by a decorative band, holding
the
hair back.
