Free Entry to Chogha Zanbil

Visitors to Chogha Zanbil, the unique ziggurat in Khuzestan Province, need not pay an entrance fee on Oct. 26, the public relations office at Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization announced.  The exemption is offered to mark the 38th anniversary of the site's inscription on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1979, which made it the first Iranian site to boast the title, ISNA reported.  The monument is the world's oldest, best preserved and architecturally unique ziggurat. It is an ancient Elamite complex located 40 km southeast of Susa City.  Together with the city of Dur Untashi, it was constructed in 1250 BC by Untash Napirisha as a religious complex dedicated to Inshushinak and other deities of Elamite pantheon such as Napirisha, Ishme-Karab and Kiririsha. The most important cultic rituals were performed in the topmost temple.