Anshan (Persia)

Anshan (Elamite cuneiform: 𒀭𒍝𒀭 Anzan; Sumerian: 𒀭𒊓𒀭𒆠 Ansanᴷᴵ, 𒀭𒊭𒀭𒆠 Anšanᴷᴵ) modern Tall-e Malyan (Persian: تل ملیان), also Tall-i Malyan, was an Elamite and ancient Persian city. It was located in the Zagros Mountains in southwestern Iran, approximately 46 kilometres (29 mi) north of Shiraz and 43 kilometres (27 mi) west of Persepolis in the Beyza/Ramjerd plain, in the province of Fars. It was one of the earliest urban states to exist, and one of the earliest capitals of Elam from the late 4th millennium BC. It fell under the rule of the Persians in the 7th century BC and then became one of the early capitals of Persia. Most of what is known about Anshan has been discovered through ancient artifacts discovered in archaeological digs at Tall-e Malyan and passages in early Mesopotamian and Elamite texts.