The capital of the Kingdom of Elam Susa (Heb. SVSN; Gr. Sousan,
Sousa), the capital of the Kingdom of Elam, and from the time of
Cyrus, or more probably of Darius I, the winter residence of the
kings of Persia. It was situated on the River Ulai or Eulaeus
(Dan., viii, 2, 16; Pliny, "Hist. Nat.", VI, 27), which was
probably a branch of the Choaspes, now the Kerkha, formerly
connected with the Pasitigris, now the Karun. After an existence
of more than fifteen centuries the city was destroyed by
Assurbanipal about 647 B.C., but it rose from its ruins, and
under Persian rule enjoyed great prosperity. It began to decay
under the Seleucids, and after the destruction of the Sassanid
monarchy by the Arabs it was gradually abandoned. The "castle"
(II Esd.1 i, 1; Dan., viii, 2), or acropolis, was distinct and
separated from the city, though in the Book of Esther the
Vulgate neglects the distinction (in i, 2, 5; ii, 3, 5, 8.; iii,
15; viii, 14; ix, 6, 11, 12, the "castle", and not the city, is
meant). Here Darius I buil