Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

58 HISTORY OF PERSIA chap.
forced to use the Semitic script during the many centuries
of her existence as a vassal state, forgot her ancient script,
and, when her independence was recovered, used the
Semitic signs in writing her own language. According
to de Morgan, Anzanite died out some three thousand
years before our era.
The Religion.—
Very little is known about the
religion
of Elam. As in the case of Sumer, there was a world
full of vague forms and spirits. The chief
deity, whose
name was sacred and secret, and who was referred to as
Shushinak or the ''
Susian," dwelt in a forest sanctuary
which was sacred, and to which only the priests and the
King were admitted. Associated with Shushinak were six
other deities of the first rank, grouped in two triads. Of
these, Amman Kasibar may possibly be the Memnon of
the Greeks. The names of a considerable number of
other deities have been recovered from inscriptions, but
beyond
We have few data for determining their characters and
their names little is known of most of them.^
attributes. We read that on certain solemn days or in
celebration of victories, the statues were brought out to
receive the devout homage of the people, and from various
facts in their history we know how strongly they cherished
their deities. As in Babylonia, the priesthood was both
powerful and wealthy, and, although we have as yet but
little information as to the details of Elamite cult and
ritual, it is clear that in many features they bore a general
resemblance to the Babylonian rites. The votive and
dedicatory inscriptions that have been deciphered do not
suggest a completely independent system or organization,
and the readiness of the Elamite priesthood to borrow
from is Babylonia well illustrated by the bronze votive
plaque of Shilhak-in-Shushinak, representing
a rite of
as its name
purification performed at sunrise, which,
implies, was directly taken over from the Semitic Babylonians.
The disturbed condition of the mounds at Susa
has prevented the recovery of trustworthy archaeological
and architectural evidence on the religious side ; but this
defect may at any moment be remedied by the finding of
^ Gautier, Rec. de trav. xxxi. pp. 41 fF.