An ancient country of southwest Asia located in what is now southwest Iran. Established before 3000 bc, Elam was frequently in conflict with Mesopotamian kingdoms during the next three millennia. Elam was eventually absorbed into the Persian Empire, although the Elamite language continued to be written until the 4th century bc.
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(place) Ancient kingdom of SW Asia, at the head of the Persian Gulf (fl. 13th & 12th cent. b.c.)
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An ancient civilization established in what is now south-western Iran before 3000 BC; its capital was Susa and its inhabitants were Elamites; known in classical times as Susiana.
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Elam Sentence Examples
In the Sumerian texts of Babylonia it was called Numma, "the Highlands," of which Elamtu or Elamu, "Elam," was the Semitic translation.
The earliest settlement there goes back to neolithic times, but it was already a fortified city when Elam was conquered by Sargon of Akkad (3800 B.C.) and Susa became the seat of a Babylonian viceroy.
From this time onward for many centuries it continued under Semitic suzerainty, its high-priests, also called "Chief Envoys of Elam, Sippara and Susa," bearing sometimes Semitic, sometimes native "Anzanite" names.
Before the rise of the First Dynasty of Babylon, however, Elam had recovered its independence, and in 2280 B.C. the Elamite king Kutur-Nakhkhunte made a raid in Babylonia and carried away from Erech the image of the goddess Nana.
He was succeeded by his son who was followed on the throne by his brother, one of the great builders of Elam.