The Definition of the word Shushan

Shushan

A lily, the Susa of Greek and Roman writers, once the capital of "Elam. It lay in the uplands of Susiana, on the east of the" "Tigris, about 150 miles to the north of the head of the Persian" "Gulf. It is the modern Shush, on the northwest of Shuster. Once" "a magnificent city, it is now an immense mass of ruins. Here" Daniel saw one of his visions (Dan. 8); and here also Nehemiah (Neh. 1) began his public life. Most of the events recorded in the Book of Esther took place here. Modern explorers have "brought to light numerous relics, and the ground-plan of the" "splendid palace of Shushan, one of the residences of the great" "king, together with numerous specimens of ancient art, which" illustrate the statements of Scripture regarding it (Dan. 8:2). "The great hall of this palace (Esther 1) "consisted of several" "magnificent groups of columns, together with a frontage of 343" "feet 9 inches, and a depth of 244 feet. These groups were" arranged into a central phalanx of thirty-six columns (six rows "of six each), flanked on the west, north, and east by an equal" "number, disposed in double rows of six each, and distant from" "them 64 feet 2 inches." The inscriptions on the ruins represent" that the palace was founded by Darius and completed by Artaxerxes.