Susa (Shushan)
Modern Shush, Khuzestan, Iran
Coordinates 32.1900, 48.2500
Era Exile and Return
Capital of the Persian Empire under Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes (Ahasuerus), and Artaxerxes. The setting of Esther; Nehemiah served as cupbearer here; Daniel had visions in this city. Excavations by the French recovered the Code of Hammurabi from a later period of the site.