Daniel 8:2- I
was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province
of Elam
Part
of the remains of Susa. The Susa inscription
from King Darius states "This palace which I
built at Susa" - Louvre Museum
Capital
of a column from the audience hall of the palace
of Darius. "The Shushan Palace". Louvre Museum.
These
decorative panels of polychrome glazed brick
come from the palace of Darius I at Susa. Louvre
Museum.
A
double-bull column capital from the Palace of
Darius at Susa. British Museum.
Wall
relief of Darius the Great from the city of Persepolis.
The
City of Susa - Shushan
Susa was an ancient city of the Elamite, Persian and Parthian empires of Iran,
located about 150 miles east of the Tigris River in Khuzestan province of Iran.
The ancient city of Susa is mentioned in the Old Testament as the place where
the prophet Daniel lived. The city name is derived from Shashana,
a member of
water
lily
family of flowers, believed to grow in lakes and swamps outside this biblical
city in ancient times.
Esther 1:2 The
throne of his kingdom, which was
in Shushan the palace
Esther 8:15 And the city of Shushan rejoiced
and was glad
Esther 2:8 When the king's order and edict
had been proclaimed, many girls were brought
to
the
citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai.
Ezra 4:9 The Elamites of Susa
The Palaces at Susa and
Persepolis
When Cyrus the Great founded his empire,
many customs from the Elam province became part of the Persian Empire. Susa was
declared as one of the three capitals
of
the Persians covering the southern regions. Today
the ruins of this palace can be seen on a hilltop
overlooking the modern city of Susa. The other palace built
by Darius in Persepolis also holds many
details that line up with the biblical account at Shushan in the books of Esther
and Daniel. Signet rings, a harem,
statues of lions and a wall relief of a man stabbing a lion. (Daniel and the
Lion's Den)
Daniel 8:2 And I saw
in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw,
that I was at Shushan in the
palace, which is in the province of Elam
The Book of Esther takes place under the reign
of Ahasuerus and Daniel under the reigns of
Cyrus and Darius who followed shortly thereafter.
In the Book of Daniel both Cyrus and Darius
are named.
The Palace at Susa
Numerous palace architectural
ornaments were uncovered which include soldiers,
guardian
figures, and mythical images. The solder images
depict
Daruis' "immortal guard," a unit
of elite high ranking warriors in charge of
protecting him and his empire. (Same as the
Romans and Nazis Praetorian
Guards). The general
view of the hill top reveals several fallen
rock carved columns. The carving style and
shapes are similar to Persepolis buildings.
The fluted shaped column with flowers at pillars
are truly an Achaemenian style in ancient palace
buildings.
The Darius Building Inscription
at Susa "This palace
which I built at Susa,
from afar its ornamentation was brought. Darius
the King
says: At Susa a very excellent work was ordered,
a very excellent work was
brought to completion." - Matches with the
Book of Esther.
Esther 2:8When
the king's order and edict had been proclaimed,
many girls were brought to the citadel
of Susa and put under
the care of Hegai.
Herodotus the Father of History
Mentions Susa "I propose to thee:
leave Miletos alone and also thy newly- founded
city
in Thracia, and coming with me to Susa,
have whatsoever things I have, eating at my
table
and being my counseller. Thus said
Darius."
"Cyrus divided into three hundred and sixty
channels. Passing thence into the Kissian
land, there are eleven stages, forty-two and
a half leagues, to the river
Choaspes, which is also a navigable stream;
and upon this is built the
city of Susa." -
Herodotus Histories - Book 2
Isaiah's Prophecy of Cyrus Fulfilled Isaiah 44: 28"Ye
shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed
places
thereof. That saith
of Cyrus,
He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my
pleasure:
even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built;
and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be
laid.
Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations
before him. I will go before thee, and make
the crooked places straight: I will break in
pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder
the bars of iron".
Isaiah gave a prophecy that Cyrus would take
Babylon, free the Jews and help them rebuild
their own temple in Jerusalem.
The Cyrus Cylinder gives an exact account
of these events as well as the Behustan inscription
of Darius. Both Persian Kings
have left their own records in archaeological
discoveries that
match up exactly with the bibical account!
