ThePalace of Darius in Susa was a palace complex that was built at the site ofSusa,Iran, during the reign ofDarius I over theAchaemenid Empire. The construction was conducted parallel to that ofPersepolis. Manpower and raw materials from various parts of the Achaemenid Empire contributed to its construction. It was once destroyed by fire and was partially restored later;^[when?] little has remained from the complex, which is today part of an archaeological site.

Palace of Darius in Susa

کاخ داریوش در شوش
Reconstruction drawing of theApadana of Susa
Susa Location of the ancient city of Susa within Iran
Alternative name	Susa Palace
Location	Susa (near modern-dayShush),Khuzestan Province, Iran
Coordinates	32°11′32″N48°14′55″E / 32.1921°N 48.2487°E /32.1921; 48.2487
Type	Palace
History
Builder	Darius I,Xerxes I,Artaxerxes I,Darius II,Artaxerxes II
Material	stone, mud-brick, wood
Founded	6th century BCE
Periods	Axial Age
Cultures	Persian
Site notes
Archaeologists	Jean Perrot, etc.
Condition	Ruined
Management	Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran
Architecture
Architectural styles	Achaemenid

The palace complex was constructed by theAchaemenid kingDarius I inSusa, his favorite capital. Construction works continued under Darius I's son,Xerxes, and to a lesser extent,Artaxerxes I (465–424 BC) andDarius II (423–404 BC).Artaxerxes II (404–358 BC) partially restored the palace as it was destroyed by a fire during the reign of Artaxerxes I fifty years earlier. The palace was captured and plundered by the invading Macedonians underAlexander the Great in December 330 BC.^[1]

The site of the palace has been greatly damaged during the past seven decades.^[2]

Construction was carried out at Susa parallel to those atPersepolis.^[3] Built on an artificially raised platform 15 metres (49 ft) high, covering 100 hectares (250 acres),^[1] the complex at Susa consists of a residential palace, anapadana (audience hall), and a monumental gate. A covered passage ("Propylaeum") faces these structures.^[1] The apadana at Susa is similar tothat of Persepolis,^[3] using the distinctivePersian column, topped by two bulls, which was probably developed here.

Sources describing Achaemenid-era Susa are rare. The Achaemenid constructions at Susa are mostly known through the royal inscriptions, which are mostly trilingual—inOld Persian,Elamite, andBabylonian. Unlike the massive number ofclay tablets found in Persepolis, only few clay tablets have been found in Susa, despite its important political and economic situation.^[1]

According to Gene R. Garthwaite, the Susa Palace served as Darius' model forPersepolis. Comparing the palace to that ofPasargadae, the former Achaemenid capital, he argues that Susa even more represented Achaemenid simultaneous rulership, and "what was symbolic was actualized", such that Darius's rule "could command craftsmen and material from the breadth of the empire" to build the monument,^[4] as is described in Darius' "charter of foundation" of the palace (or theDSf inscription), which enumerates the workers and the material used:^[5]

This palace which I built at Susa, from afar its ornamentation was brought. Downward the earth was dug, until I reached rock in the earth. When the excavation had been made, then rubble was packed down, some 40cubits in depth, another (part) 20 cubits in depth. On that rubble the palace was constructed.

And that the earth was dug downward, and that the rubble was packed down, and that thesun-dried brick was molded, theBabylonian people -- it did (these tasks).

Thecedar timber, this -- a mountain namedLebanon -- from there was brought. TheAssyrian people, it brought it toBabylon; from Babylon theCarians and theIonians brought it to Susa. Theyakâ-timber was brought fromGandara and fromCarmania.

The gold was brought fromSardis and fromBactria, which here was wrought. The precious stonelapis lazuli andcarnelian which was wrought here, this was brought fromSogdiana. The precious stoneturquoise, this was brought fromChorasmia, which was wrought here.

The silver and theebony were brought fromEgypt. The ornamentation with which the wall was adorned, that from Ionia was brought. Theivory which was wrought here, was brought fromEthiopia [Nubia] and fromSind and fromArachosia.

The stone columns which were here wrought, a village named Abiradu, inElam -- from there were brought. The stone-cutters who wrought the stone, those were Ionians and Sardians.

The goldsmiths who wrought the gold, those wereMedes and Egyptians. The men who wrought the wood, those were Sardians and Egyptians. The men who wrought thebaked brick, those were Babylonians. The men who adorned the wall, those were Medes and Egyptians.

Darius the King says: At Susa a very excellent (work) was ordered, a very excellent (work) was (brought to completion). Me mayAhuramazda protect, andHystaspes my father, and my country.

— Darius I,DSf inscription

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  Site of the palace
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  Ruins of the Apadana of Susa
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  Reconstruction drawing of theApadana of the Susa Palace
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  Remains of aPersian column
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  Bull capital from the Apadana of the Susa Palace,Louvre
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  Relief of rosace
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  The Frieze of Archers, glazed siliceous bricks, Louvre
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  Decorative panel with sphinxes
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  Relief of winged lion
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  Statue of Darius, with a quadrilingual inscription at its base
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  Lion-shaped weight
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  Bracelet ornated with a pair of lion heads
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  Rhyton
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  Winged Aurochs
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  Capital remains of the Apadana palace of Susa located in the museum of Susa
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  Glazed siliceous bricks with a decorative spirals pattern, from palace of Darius the Great at Susa, currently in the Louvre, France.
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  Similar patterns ofFerdowsitomb, modeling from palace of Darius, Susa.

• Perrot, Jean, ed. (2013).The Palace of Darius at Susa: The Great Royal Residence of Achaemenid Persia. London: I.B. Tauris.ISBN 9781848856219.

• "Susa, Palace of Darius the Great", Livius