Elam - Ancient kingdom at the head of the Persian Gulf, E of Babylonia. Elam dates back to possibly the 5th millenium BC; from about 3000 BC there was a conflict between the Elamites, the non-Semitic inhabitants of Elam, and the Sumerians and Akkadians. Elam flourished between 1200 BC until about 640 BC when it was absorbed by Assyria, which destroyed the capital city of Susa.