Ancient country of the Middle East.
It was located in what is now southwestern Iran, at the head of the Persian Gulf and east of ancient Babylonia ; its capital was Susa (the country, thus, is sometimes known as Susiana). It had close cultural ties to Mesopotamia and was in conflict with the Sumerians (see Sumer ) and Akkadians (see Akkad ) from с 3000 BC. In the 13th century BC, it became a dominant power that included most of Mesopotamia east of the Persepolis . Its domination ended when Nebuchadrezzar I of Babylon (r. 1124–1103 BC) captured Susa. Later, Elam formed a satrapy of the Persian Achaemenian dynasty, and Susa became one of its capitals.