gods’metamorphosis in ancient ilam

ilam civilization is the most important ancient and indigenous civilization of iran prior to the formation of aryan rule and the achaemenid empire. the capital of this civilization, susa, joinedurbanization in 3200 b.c. and was put aside from history in 646 b.c. by assyrian empire. one of the most significant part of this civilization was  ilamidreligion and worldview as represented in their temples, gods statues, religious traditions, and ceremonies such as immolation, oblation, and so on. according to archeological documents and evidence, ilamid religion has transformed greatly. this transformation is to a large extent reflected in the changes to the figures of ilamid gods. this article, relying on archeological evidence, makes efforts to examine the metamorphosis in ilamidgods from the beginning of their formation to the decline of this civilization. the gods appeared as animals (beasts), animal-animal combination, animal-human combination, and eventuallyas sacred and unobservable gods.