782 BC founded by Argishti I and Sarduri II

Other cities: Argishtikhinili (Armavir)

Teishebani (Karmir Blur) (300 years)

Entrance Lobby. Go to right, small area with restrooms. Hallway faces it. First door on right is where tour guides and tickets can be obtained. Guide languages: Armenian and Russian.

Begin with inscription on wall facing front doors: Records the efforts of the archeologists who excavated the site (primary one is Constantine Hovhannissian), and says that the museum and site were officially opened in 1968, which was the 2750^th anniversary of the founding of Erebuni. The city of Yerevan traces its founding to the same date. That makes Yerevan in 1996 2,778 years old.

As you walk up the steps, you will pass a low window. Beyond it is a reconstruction of the central Palace courtyard at the excavation site. It is open at the center, with porticos ringing the walls. The use of stone and wood… The courtyard in the is one of the first examples of peristyle (using columns to surround a building or enclosed a central court) discovered in this part of the world.

Two bas relief’s carved from tuf.

1A. The one on the right is a reconstruction of the Urartian god Khaldi.

1C. The one on the left is of the god Teisheba.

Both were reconstructed using fragments of frescoes found within the excavation site.

The Urartuans worshipped 79 deities. Most were a combination of human and animal aspects. At the entrance to the museum, you passed two examples which are close in design to Babylonian gods.

1C. In the center is a map made from metal showing the Urartu Kingdom at its greatest extent. Towards the right of the map, you can notice three lakes. The largest lake is Van. The Urartuans called their country Biaini (-li), while the name "Urartu" comes from the Assyrians, and has been used in archeological and historical research since. The words "Biain" and "Van" are not that far removed: several centuries of dialect pronunciations have softened the "b" to a "v" and changed the diphthong "iai" to a short "a" sound.

The capital of Urartu was called Tushpa (now, the town of Van), and it became its major administrative, trading and cultural center. Destroyed in the 6^th C BC, excavations of the ancient city show a remarkably developed culture that had extensive contacts with the major empires of the Ancient world stretching between the Mediterranean and India, and rivaled them for trade, military and cultural hegemony. Urartian timber was shipped to Egypt, its metal forges were used to produce iron weapons and tools, and its development of irrigation created vast agricultural areas from heretofore desert or wasteland. They worshipped a pantheon of gods which closely resembled those in other empires, and their temple architecture show a similarity to that discovered in Ur (ca. 3500-2000 BC) and Babylon. It is known that when the Assyrian king Shargun II built Dur-Sharukin, he incorporated details from Urartian secular design schemes into his throne room. Some of the reconstructed frescoes you will see in the excavation of Erebuni are virtually identical to those later used by the Assyrians.

The Urartians had a centralized government, led by a king, and were the first ancestors of the Armenians to successfully bind a federation of tribes into a large empire. Often at odds with the Assyrians, their history parallels the rise and fall of the Babylonian and Assyrian empires, and as an empire they were weakened along with the Assyrians from extensive warfare. Urartu was dealt a death blow in the 6^th c. BC by first the Medians, and then the Achaemenid Empire (under Cyrus, Xerxes and Darius). At their height in the 8^th c BC, they were strong enough to usurp Assyrian provinces and threaten her trade routes, and they invaded Babylon (going as far as the river Diala).

Where did the Urartuans come from? Before their rise in the 9^th c BC, they were a tribe which belonged to a loose federation led by the Nairi. The Nairi were based around Southern Lake Van. The Nairi were recorded as early as 2000 BC on Assyrian cuneiform as the "land between the rivers" holding about 60 tribes and 100 cities. The Nairi were one tribe among many, but they held a predominant position during the 2^nd millennium BC, and became the namesake for the entire region. Among the tribes in Nairi was the Urartu. From what we know of the Nairi tribes, the customs and traditions of the indigenous tribes were similar to others found in Mesopotamia, and the tribes more than likely were of Semitic or Ugaritic origin. However, by the time Urartu was rising in prominence it was already influenced by Indo-Europeans, and held both genetic and cultural links with the tribes in Nairi and those it would subsume in present day Armenia.

Also around 2000 BC, Indo-European (Indo-Aryan) tribes began to migrate and invade the entire Ancient world between India and Europe. The Hittites were an Indo-European tribe that entered the region of Asia Minor around 2000 BC. The Hittites mention about the same time a vassal kingdom of theirs called the Haiassa-Aza, which are considered one of the forebears of the Armenian state. The Haiassa-Aza were Indo-European, had extensive contacts with the tribes of the Nairi, and it is believed that architectural and cultural influences from the Hittites were filtered into this region through them, as did the roots of an Indo-European language system.

Another wave of Indo-Europeans entered the scene around the 12^th c. BC, and are thought to be Thraco-Phrygians retreating from Mycanaeans and early Greek incursions in Thrace and Phrygia (the war of Troy is believed to have occurred in the 12^th c. BC), and who intermingled with the Nairi tribes and further introduced Indo-European language, culture and physical features. It is also believed that the introduction of the sound "AR" to the Armenian name came from one (or more) of these Indo-European tribes, who were a part of the greater Indo-Aryan migration. The Armenian language is known to have its roots in the Thraco-Phrygian languages and classified under its branch.

By the 11^th c BC, the Nairi were being usurped by the Urartuans for hegemony in the region, and Assyrian cuneiforms from this period record the first mention of Urartu as a strong power. Other rival tribes (or kingdoms, as they were called) in the area included the Mitanni, southwest of Lake Van, the Manah (around Lake Urmia) and the Diaukhi (around present day Erzurum). The Diaukhi were, at the time of the rise of Urartu, the most powerful political formation of the Nairi. By the time of Urartu’s rise, the Nairi tribe had retreated Southwest of Lake Van to a country called Khubushkia. The area of present day Armenia was held by the kings of Etwikhi (Etwini).

Early kings of Urartu established control around Van, and began to invade other areas. The entire history of Urartu is one of subjugation, attack and warfare. One the earliest of the Urartu kings is Ishpuinis (Ispuinis), who was successful enough with the Assyrians in warfare he began to assume titles of ever-increasing pomposity and glory. From "Ruler of Tushpa", he soon added the titles, "King of the Land of Nairi", "Great King", Powerful King" and King of the Universe".

Ishpuinis succeeded in stretching the empire close to the edge of present day Armenia, along the Arax river, but was repelled by local indigenous tribes. Contemporary accounts show a series of attacks and counter-attacks between the Urartuans and local kingdoms, the Witarukhi, Lusha, and Katarza, aided by the kings of Etwikhi. At the same time, they were repelling repeated Assyrian attacks, and had so grown in wealth and military importance, that other tribes in the now "Nairi-Urartu" federation began to organize their own attacks against the new empire.

The rise of Urartu as an empire is centered around three kings, Menuas, Argishti and Sardur I. Menuas in particular established the outlines of the empire, and organized the centralized administrative structure that enabled his son Argishti and grandson Sardur II to extend the empire to its furthest reaches. Menuas reached the northern spurs of Mount Ararat and reached the banks of the Arax river. He established a stronghold named Menuakhnili (starting an Urartian tradition of naming cities after its kings) in the environs of the present day village Tashburun. Excavations done in 1893-1894 revealed a large building (temple) and series of dwellings. This outpost protected the Urartuans on the Northern regions, and allowed them to begin to attack rival kingdoms and consolidate their power.

Menuas spent much of his efforts in internal organization of the empire, and most likely because of this Assyrian cuneiforms do mention him. Urartian cuneiforms show that Menuas fortified the citadel of Tushpa and established cities and strongholds throughout the empire. The fortified cities (and their citadels) he built were built in such a way that communications between event he farthest reaches of the empire and Tushpa could be made within a matter of hours. Of particular note, Menuas developed extensive irrigation within the Urartian empire, some of which are still operating. Of these, the mistakenly-called Shamiram (or Semiramis) canal was built during the reign of Menuas, and still supplies water to the region of Van. Though Menuas succeeded in reaching the Arax river, he was not able to cross it and further his conquests. It was not until the reign of his son, Argishti I, and grandson, Sardur II, that the greatest conquests-- and the construction of the fortified city of Erebuni-- occurred.

Much of the conquests and wars in this period were over resources, particularly metallurgical resources. Because iron was first forged in this region and was beginning to be widely spread throughout the ancient world, wars in this period were often over this important metal. Wealthy mining centers were based in the area of the Urartian kingdom, Diaukhi, Manah and Syria. The fighting between Urartu and Assyria intensified over the possession of wealthy mining centers in the area, and they particularly fought over the conquest of Syria and the Eastern part of Asia Minor.

The wars between Urartu and Assyria accelerated during the early years of the reign of Argishti I. Though Menuas had an older son, Inushpuah, he did not succeed to the throne. Historians believe he became head priest of Khaldi (the chief god in the Urartian pantheon) at Musasir, which was the religious center for the country. Argishti, Menua’s younger son, did succeed to the throne in 786 BC, and was immediately embroiled in war with Assyria. Assyria--which had been weakened by earlier struggles-- suddenly began to expand its empire, and had particular eyes on the rich mining resources in the Armenian Plateau. Urartu stood in the way, and so they invaded.

As far sighted as Menua was in the internal organization of the empire, Argishti was in taking advantage of his father’s work with military prowess. Argishti quickly consolidated early gains made against Assyria by outflanking the Assyrians in their provinces, through which her trade routes stretched. Pursuing Assyria on the south and east, his army conquered the countries of Melitanuh and Komaguenuh and invaded Babylon itself (at this time Babylon was held as a possession of the Assyrians), reaching as far as the river Diala.

His military victories were not small. Argishti I took on the greatest empire of the region, and succeeded in checking its expansion North for 50 years. And Argishti I was fighting against the one of the greatest generals at the time, that of the Assyrian king Shalmaneser IV--Turtan Shamsheluh. In almost all military campaigns except those against Urartu, the Assyrians found victory, much due to the resources of Turtan Shamsheluh. An inscription found at Tel-Borsippa shows a frustrated Shamsheluh frankly admitting who was the better general: Argishti "…whose name is as terrible as a dreadful storm, whose might is immeasurable, who cannot be compared with any one of the previous kings…" Such recognition of an adversary’s superiority is not common in the Ancient world, and one can imagine it’s affect both within and outside the Assyrian empire.

As a result of Argishti’s victories, other neighboring countries began to fear for their own security. Among these were the Diaukhi, who had held political sway in Nairi-Urartu beforehand. They organized neighboring tribes into an attack from the North, while appealing to the Assyrians to attack from the south and check Urartu’s expansion. Their timing was poor, since the Assyrians were already weakened by fighting with Urartu, and Argishti defeated the Diaukhi and its federation of tribes, bringing them into the empire. Soon after, Argishti ended a long struggle with the Manah, situated near the southeastern part of Lake Urmia, by defeating them. Continuing to check Assyria’s efforts to expand North, Argishti was able to himself expand his territories to include a land that was soon to become second only to the capital in importance: The Ararat plain and beyond.

Taking advantage of the fulcrum Menuas established at Menuakhnili, Argishti I crossed the Arax River and penetrated to the Ararat Plain. He and his son, Sardur I expanded the empire as far as both shores of Lake Sevan, and to the edges of modern Georgia, incorporating most of the territory of modern Armenia into its reaches.

The primary significance of the Ararat Plain for Urartu was its fertile soil and the abundance of water. The so-called Shamiram irrigation canal (still in use to the west of Ashtarak), and most of the irrigation used in the valley today were first planned by Argishti I.

1D. Model of Erebuni as it is reconstructed.

Temples: Sushi, Khaldi,

2. Cuneiform Stones

Until 1950 the city of Erebuni was known simply as a hill where after rains and melting snows, villagers could find artifacts. Discovery by villagers of a piece of cuneiform writing led to extensive excavations directed by Constantine Hovhannissian. From all Urartu excavations in Armenia since 1950, more than 500 cuneiform stones were discovered. From Erebuni, 20 cuneiform stones were found.

3. Long Hall 1. First Case:

1. Menua and Shamiram (after Queen Semiramid) Water pipes carved from stone. The city and surrounding area was extensively irrigated. Notice the way the stones were carved with male and female joints. Central stone has an oblong opening for cleaning. Stones nearby are those used to clean pipes (even they ancients had plumbing problems!
2. Large stone bowl made of volcanic rock used for filtering water.

4. Long Hall, First Case:

1. Pictures (on right) Wooden plows used for farming.
2. Pictures (middle): Beer manufacturing center
3. Pictures (left): Cattle shed.

5. Long Hall, Second Case

1. Oblong jars for brewing/storing beer. (coca cola)
2. Huge clay jar, used for storing Wine, oil and wheat. Jars were half buried underground to keep a constant temperature. There are marks on the jar, which show a measurement. 1 akarki = 250 liters. 1 terusi = 25 liters. So three akarki marks on the jar show it can hold 750 liters.
3. A small strange shaped jar with triangle holes was filled with mercury, and placed in the large jars to clean them between use.

6. Next Hall, Left Case

1. 3000 year old wooden fortress wood (oak) used for columns, door and window casings, roof construction. Roofs were made of cross beams with woven reeds as covering.

7. Next Hall, Right: First Case

1. Bronze metal pipes (fragments) (200 BC)
2. Door Locks (Bronze)
3. Arrows
4. slings and sling stones and other weaponry
5. Stone ax head

8. Second Case (?)

1. Molds for smelting metal.
2. polishing stones
3. grinding stones for sharpening weapons and knives
4. fragments of stone relics
5. Urartian clothes (used by upper classes)
6. Fragments of loom instruments
7. spinning instrument for making wool thread
8. oil lamps, divided into two halve, with the smaller well linked to the larger by holes. The wick sat in the smaller section.
9. Upper case: small clay bottles for medicine, perfume, etc.
10. Small case towards end. Funerary jar where ashes of the deceased were placed. Note the three holes. They were cut so that the soul of the deceased could leave the confines of the jar.
11. In the corner jar are a water and wheat design around the side of the jar.

9. Corner Case

1. A stone primitive carving of an unknown god. Remarkable for being a full face depiction of the god. This is the first and earliest instance of this (before, gods were always shown in profile).

10. Next Hall, First Case:

1. Small statuettes of metal showing Khald
2. Small sitting statuette showing Arubani
3. on the pedestal below Khald is an Egyptian amulet. Bronze.
4. On the wall a bronze shield. Decoration--30 kg. Bronze, diameter is 70 cm-1 meter.
5. on the third pedestal are two stone boxes with carved coverings. One shows sun rays, the other has a ring of carved lions.

11. Next Case:

1. Bronze musical bowl. Different sizes were made and used to make music (8^th c BC).
2. small case: bronze bell.
3. small case: Argishti bronze or iron stamp.

12. Next Case:

1. Necklaces: agate, obsidian and amber stones
2. Sea shells from the Aegean Sea
3. Bone jewelry: amulets. Men used this type of "amulet" more than women, they were for good luck.
4. Argishti I Helmet:

13. Next case

1. Picture: religious and everyday life
2. Stone fragment drawings on either side of coins with blue stone (right is horse (religious), left is bull (everyday life scene)
3. coins come from Caesar imprints (2 AD)
4. bronze buckle from belt
5. arrowheads
6. bronze shields
7. Drinking cup of Argishti I. Cuneiform inscription circles below a tower with spear rising from it. The symbols has become that of Yerevan.

ARMENIA'S CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION