Susa was located in the lowlands southwest of the Zagros Mountains. It was one of Persia’s capital cities (compare Ezra 4:9; Nehemiah 1:1; Esther 1:2). Susa was a fortified capital with architecture decorated with glazed images of griffins (creatures with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle), winged bulls, and lions.
The Ulai River was likely a human-made canal.