The Dawn of Kish Through Ages and Centuries
Kish Island, amid the turbulence of storms of events and occurrences of time, suffered severe blows of destruction and ruin many times. And with repeated handovers between invaders and the intermittent domination of foreigners, it endured heavy and grievous damages. The history of Kish's antiquity is joined to the ancient history of Iran. What is certain is that the first seafarers of this region, due to the geographical characteristics of Kish, particularly its proximity to the mainland of Iran and because seafarers were not yet able to penetrate the middle of the vast expanse of seas and oceans, were compelled to pass through waters close to the coasts in order to obtain water, foodstuffs and other necessities of the sea voyage from islands along the route. Kish Island, with its geographical position, commercial prosperity, proximity to the mainland, security and other capabilities, was always a fixed base for the anchorage of merchant ships on their journeys.
Strategic position of Kish
In the time of the kings of Elam and Assyria and the encounter of the civilizations of that era, especially the civilization of the Elamites and the Sumerians, it was very important, and Kish was deeply influenced by the cultures of these civilizations. The route of most early and primitive sailing ships of ancient times that came directly from Susa and the Karun River into the Persian Gulf and followed the northern coasts of the Gulf, the islands of Hormuz and Qeshm in the strait of the Gulf and Kish near the end of this area were among their main stopping places for procuring necessities and exchanging commercial goods and were among the reliable maritime bases of that time. During the period of the Medes, Persians and especially the Aryans and even the era of the Elamite kings and thereafter, Kish, like other parts of the southern Iranian plateau, was considered part of the bedrock of these civilizations. Politically and economically, Kish was more or less subject to the Elamite civilization and with the extinction of this civilization, Kish also lost its distinguished position. And for a time it became the scene of disorder and passed from hand to hand between conquerors and their puppets and local tyrant rulers who were subject to the invaders. With the removal of Sumerian dominance over this region and the dawn of the Achaemenid Empire and their brilliant civilization, the Persian Gulf, in the light of that brilliance, was furnished with the most advanced constructions of the day for navigation, signaling, installation of lighthouses and other facilities and equipment. Naturally, Kish Island, because of its proximity to the mainland of Iran alongside this radiant civilization, acquired a special and important position, and this position continued into the eras of the Parthian and Sasanian monarchies as well.