Tomb of the Prophet Daniel in Shush

The Tomb of the Prophet Daniel stands in the centre of Shush, on the site of ancient Susa, and is visible from far off thanks to the white ribbed cone above the grave: this form of dome, the shah, is characteristic of Khuzestan and is found in several other local shrines. Tradition links the grave with the Old Testament prophet Daniel, whose relics, according to local tradition, were brought here after the fall of Babylon. Medieval travellers wrote about the tomb at Susa, among them Benjamin of Tudela in the twelfth century. The present buildings date from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries: a wide paved courtyard, a tiled portal with turquoise ornament and minarets to either side. Daniel is venerated by Muslims and by Jews alike, and pilgrims of different communities come to the shrine. Nearby flows the Shaur river, on whose bank the original grave is said to have been. The mausoleum itself is surrounded by the blocks of the modern city, and a few hundred metres away the archaeological zone of ancient Susa begins.

The shrine is in use and is venerated by both Muslims and Jews; visitors are let into the courtyard, and entry requires covered clothing, with a headscarf for women. The white ribbed dome is visible from far off and serves as a landmark in the centre of Shush. The archaeological zone of Susa is close by. Payment in cash.

Address

فرمانداری, دهستان حسین آباد

On the map