Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:50 AM Sayfa
Urartian Civilization 860-590 BC
Human kind’s existence in the territories which are known as Van
Urartians dates back to the Prehistoric Ages. For instance, rock paintings
in the Triflin Plateau of Çatak extend as late as the Mesolithic Age. Cultural
relics from the Chalcolithic, Bronze and Iron Age have been encountered
at the Tumulus of Tilkitepe-which is within the borders of the airport
today-and at the Ernifl Cemeteries-which are to the north of Lake Van.
Around the beginning of the third millennium, the surrounding of Lake
Van was a scene to intensive tribal migrations coming through the
Caucasus. These tribes known as the Hurrians settled along Lake Van.
Beginning approximately 2000 BC, the Hurrians possessed a large area
starting from Lake Van. After 1500 BC, the Hurrians came together with
the Mitannis and emerged as a large political power in Eastern Anatolia.
However, later they came under the rule of the Hittite Empire. The
region seems to have been under the control of the Assyrians after the
decadence of the Hittites around 1200 BC. Assyrian sources also reveal
that tribes known as the Nairis lived in this region.
Salmanasar I, who was the Assyrian King during 1274-1244 BC, reported
that the confederation named Uruatri was made up of 8 different tribes.
The Assyrian kings struggled with these tribes until the mid 9 th century
BC, failing to hold this region under their subjugation due to its
mountainous nature. Assyrian sources reveal that the king of the
Urartians was Arumu (860-840 BC) and their capital was Arzashkun.
Salmanasar I defeated these tribes and demolished their capital.
In 840 BC, Sarduri I-the son of Lutipri-gathered these tribes under his
ruling and established the State of Urartu by making Tushpa (Van) the
capital. On the north western flank of Van Castle, there is the epitaph
telling of the construction. This epitaph belongs to Sarduri who entitled
himself as the king of kings. During the reign of Sarduri I (840-830 BC)
Urartian borders were enlarged and the administrative and military
structure of the kingdom was shaped. After his death, his son Ishpuini
(830-810 BC) ascended to the Urartu throne and commissioned defense
castles to be built, such as Zivistan, Lower Anzaf and Kalecik. Ishpuini
reigned by sharing his regency with his son Menua. The greatest
undertaking of Ishpuini was his expeditions to the south. The epitaph of
Relief of the god Haldi.
Rusa II 685-645 BC Kef Fortress, Adilcevaz.
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Ankara.
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