SUSA, Iran — Iranians have turned a huge excavation site in the city of Shush, site of “Susa,” the ancient city of Shushan — center of the events in the Purim story — into a garbage dump.
Culture heritage backers put a stop to construction of a hotel on the site, according to the Tehran News, which added that residents of the Shush municipality are now filling the huge, gaping 300-foot by 300-foot hole with rubbish.
Iran Turns Biblical City of Shushan into Garbage Dump
SUSA, Iran — Iranians have turned a huge excavation site in the city of Shush, site of “Susa,” the ancient city of Shushan — center of the events in the Purim story — into a garbage dump.
Culture heritage backers put a stop to construction of a hotel on the site, according to the Tehran News, which added that residents of the Shush municipality are now filling the huge, gaping 300-foot by 300-foot hole with rubbish.
Iranian archaeologists have estimated that Susa is one of the oldest known settlements in the world. The Book of Esther (known as the Megillah of Esther -ed.), which is recited on Purim names the city – then known as Shushan – as the capital of the huge empire ruled at the time by King Achashveros.
The site has been a frequent target of vandals, who last year smashed the column bases of an ancient palace located at Susa. A planned four-story high school adjacent to the palace was scrapped because of protests to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that it would spoil the view of the ancient building.
Vandals have stolen several artifacts and one archaeologist blamed the thefts on anti-Iranians, possible Arab settlers.
Iran is Persian, and although it is a Muslim country, it is culturally and politically not Arabic, and is not a member of the Arab League.
Milhouse
So? What’s it to us? Shushan is not part of our heritage, it’s the Persians’ heritage, so let them treat it as they like. If right now their greatest need is for somewhere to put their garbage, fine.
mankind
how about because its part of mankinds history, just as rome, greece, and egypt are sacred and monumental, likewise shushan or “Susa” gives further evidence of biblical accuracy and people should respect that.