Kingdom of Urartu
Kingdom of Urartu (Assyrian: māt Urarṭu, Babylonian: Urashtu, Hebrew: אֲרָרָט, romanized: Ararat), was an Iron Age kingdom. Territory of the ancient Kingdom of Urartu extended over the modern frontiers of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and the Republic of Armenia. Its center was the Armenian highland between Lake Van, Lake Urmia, and Lake Sevan.[1] During the seventh century, the Urartians collaborated with a combination of Scythians and Cimmerians in their jockeying for power, but by 590, having been weakened in the constant rivalry between Assyrians, Babylonians, Scythians, and Medes, Urartu was swallowed by the Medes.[2]
Kingdom of Urartu māt Urarṭu (Assyrian) Urashtu (Babylonian) אֲרָרָט, Ararat (Hebrew) | |
|---|---|
| 860 BC–590 BC | |
 Urartu during Sarduri II, 743 BC | |
| Capital |
|
| Common languages | Urartian Proto-Armenian |
| Religion | Urartian polytheism |
| Government | Monarchy |
| King | |
• 858–844 | Arame (first) |
• 590–585 | Rusa IV (last) |
| History | |
• | 860 BC |
• | 590 BC |
Urartu and Armenians
Armenians are the heirs of the Urartians.[3] A. E. Redgate says that the Urartians are the "most easily identifiable" ancestors of the Armenians.[4] Philip D. Curtin defined the Kingdom of Urartu as an Armenian kingdom.[5]
Maps
| Map | Year |
|---|---|
|
860–840 BC |
|
820–785 BC |
|
785–753 BC |
|
745–735 BC |
|
|
743 BC |
|
735–715 BC |
|
713–680 BC |
|
680–610 BC |
|
610–585 BC |
Kingdom Of Urartu Media
Urartu under Arame of Urartu, 860–840 BC
Fragment of a bronze helmet from Argishti I's era. The "tree of life", popular among the ancient societies, is depicted. The helmet was discovered during the excavations of the fortress Of Teyshebaini on Karmir-Blur (Red Hill).
Niche and base for a destroyed Urartian stele, Van citadel, 1973.
Urartian stone arch near Van, 1973.[source?]
Urartian tomb complex, Van citadel, 1973.
Urartian royal tomb. Van citadel, 1973
Map of the kingdom of Urartu, between -715 and -713.
Head of a Bull, Urartu, 8th century BC. This head was attached to the rim of an enormous cauldron similar to the one shown above. Walters Art Museum collections.
Silver bucket from Urartu in the Museum zu Allerheiligen in Schaffhausen Switzerland, allegedly from the tomb of Prince Inuspua, 810 BC
References
- ↑ Kleiss 2008.
- ↑ Jacobson 1995, p. 33.
- ↑ Frye 1984, p. 73.
- ↑ Redgate 2000, p. 5.
- ↑ Curtin 1984, p. 185.
Sources
- Kleiss, Wolfram (2008). "URARTU IN IRAN". Encyclopædia Iranica. “The territory of the ancient kingdom of Urartu extended over the modern frontiers of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and the Republic of Armenia. Its center was the Armenian highland between Lake Van, Lake Urmia, and Lake Sevan.”
- Jacobson, Esther (1995). The Art of the Scythians: The Interpenetration of Cultures at the Edge of the Hellenic World. BRILL. p. 33. ISBN 90-04-09856-9.
During the seventh century, the Urartians collaborated with a combination of Scythians and Cimmerians¹² in their jockeying for power, but by 590, having been weakened in the constant rivalry between Assyrians, Babylonians, Scythians, and Medes, Urartu was swallowed by the Medes.
- Frye, Richard N (1984). The History of Ancient Iran. Munich: C.H. Beck. pp. 73. ISBN 978-3406093975.
The real heirs of the Urartians, however, were neither the Scythians nor Medes but the Armenians.
- Redgate, A. E (2000). The Armenians. Oxford: Blackwell. pp. 5. ISBN 978-0631220374.
However, the most easily identifiable ancestors of the later Armenian nation are the Urartians.
- Curtin, Philip D. (1984). Cross-Cultural Trade in World History. Cambridge University Press. pp. 185. ISBN 978-0-521-26931-5.
At least three times in history, Armenians rose to unusual territorial power. The first was in the ninth to the sixth century B.C., where the Armenian kingdom of Urartu was an important stopping point for trade between Asia and the Mediterranean world.