What You Can Discover Visiting to Erebuni Fortress
Erebuni Fortress also known as Arin Berd is a fortified city from the ancient kingdom of Urartu, located in what is present-day Yerevan, Armenia. It was one of several fortresses built along the northern Urartu border and was one of the most important political, economic and cultural centers of the vast kingdom. The name Yerevan itself is derived from Erebuni.
Erebuni was founded by King Argishti I (r. ca. 785–753 B.C.) in 782 B.C. It was built on top of a hill called Arin Berd overlooking the Arax! River Valley to serve as a military stronghold to protect the kingdom's northern borders.
Erebuni Museum of History in Yerevan
The Erebuni Historical & Archeological Culture-Preserve was founded on May 24, 1968 according to Resolution 225, passed by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.
It was created to scientifically validate finds discovered in the three famous archaeological sites of Arin Berd, Karmir Blur and Shengavit, situated in the administrative boundaries of Yerevan. The Culture-Preserve's main interest is in documenting the history of the establishment of Yerevan. It operates according to its charter to promote scientific information, educational and cultural activity.
Arin Berd as a stategic position overlooking Ararat(n1)
The site of Erebuni Fortress was located atop the 65 m tall hill of Arin Berd as a stategic position overlooking the Ararat plain and the main roads leading to the citadel. It also overlooked cramped Urartian town made up of residences below at the foot of the hill.
The main entrance to the fortresswas located at the more gently sloped southeastern site of the hill. It led to the central yard of the citadel. Ceremonies held by the personal guards of Argishti I and guards of the fortress garrison were held here. In the southwest portion of the yard was a temple of the god Khaldi.
Excavations were carried out at Erebuni in 1952
Early excavations began during the nineteenth century while more systematic excavations were carried out at Erebuni in 1952, under the joint sponsorship of the Armenian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography and the Pushkin Museum's Board for the Preservation and Restoration of Architectural Monuments.
Dozens of Urartian and Achaemenian artifacts, such as pottery, earthenware, belt-buckles, bracelets, beads, drinking vessels, helmets, arrows and silver coins, were also uncovered...
Teishebaini was built by Rusa II in 7th century BC
The city of Teishebaini was built by Rusa II in the first half of the 7th century BC to protect the eastern borders of Urartu from the barbaric Cimmerians and Scythians.
Within the city was a governors palace that contained a hundred and twenty rooms spreading across more than ten acres, and citadel named the Citadel of Teisheba after the Urartian god of war.
The construction of the city, palace, and the citadel were not fully finished until the reign of Rusa III, some 50 years later.
Erebuni was founded by King Argishti I (r. ca. 785–753 B.C.) in 782 B.C. It was built on top of a hill called Arin Berd overlooking the Arax River Valley to serve as a military stronghold to protect the kingdom's northern borders. According to Margarit Israelyan, Argishti began the construction of Erebuni after conquering the territories north of Yerevan and west of Lake Sevan, roughly corresponding to where the town of Abovyan is currently located. Accordingly, the prisoners he captured in these campaigns, both men and women, were used to help build his town.
In the autumn of 1950, an archaeological expedition led by Konstantine Hovhannisyan discovered an inscription at Arin Berd dedicated to the city's founding which was carved during Argishti's reign. Two other identical inscriptions have been found at the citadel of Erebuni. The inscription reads:
"By the greatness of the God Khaldi, Argishti, son of Menua, built this mighty stronghold and proclaimed it Erebuni for the glory of Biainili (Urartu) and to instill fear among the king's enemies. Argishti says: The land was a desert, before the great works I accomplished upon it. By the greatness of Khaldi, Argishti, son of Menua, is a mighty king, king of Biainili, and ruler of Tushpa.
Argishti left a similar inscription at the Urartian capital of Tushpa (current-day Van) as well, stating that he brought 6,600 prisoners of war from Khate and Tsupani to populate his new city. Similar to other Urartian cities of the time, it was built on a triangular plan on top of a hill and ensconced by 10-12 meter high ramparts. Behind them, the buildings were separated by central and inner walls. The walls were built from a variety of materials, including basalt, tuff, wood and adobe. Argishti constructed a grand palace here and excavations conducted in the area have revealed that other notable buildings included a colonnaded royal assembly hall, a temple dedicated to Khaldi, a citadel, where the garrison resided, living quarters, dormitories and storerooms. The inner walls were richly and opulently decorated with murals and other wall paintings, displaying religious and secular scenes.
Successive Urartian kings made Erebuni their place of residence during their military campaigns against northern invaders and continued construction work to build up the fortress defences. Kings Sarduri II and Rusa I also utilized Erebuni as a staging site for new campaigns of conquest directed towards the north. In the early sixth century the Urartian state, under constant foreign invasion, collapsed.
The region soon fell under the control of the Achaemenian Empire. The strategic position that Erebuni occupied did not diminish, however, becoming an important center of the satrapy of Armenia.
Despite numerous invasions by successive foreign powers, the city was never truly abandoned and was continually inhabited over the following centuries, eventually branching out to become the city of Yerevan. Erebuni's close affinity to Yerevan was celebrated in a splendid festival held in September 1968, commemorating Erebuni's 2,750th birthday.
General Menus
ErebuniArin Berd settlement
Karmir BlurTeisebaini settlement
ShengavitSettlement
MuseumErebuni museum
What to discover in Erebuni
Նժույգը որսից հետո
Achaemenid period
Խալդի աստծո (գահի վրա) և նրա կնոջ՝ Արուբանիի պատկերներով արծաթե կանացի զարդ
Silver Medalions
Պահպանվել են ոսկերչական արվեստի բազմաթիվ նմուշներ
Ancient wall-paintings
Որմնանկար Էրեբունիի սյունաշար դահլիճից
Souvenirs' shop in Museum
In Erebuni museum we have a gifts' and souvenirs' shop inside where you can buy different type of souvenirs relating to a particular topic.
The main entrance to the fortresswas located at the more gently sloped southeastern site of the hill. It led to the central yard of the citadel. Ceremonies held by the personal guards of Argishti I and guards of the fortress garrison were held here.