Urartu - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Constitution

The process of unification of the mountain tribes lasts a long time and leads only to the 9th century. It is in -855, that for the first time Urartu in the shelves Assyrie appears, with the mention of a king, a certain “Aramu d' Urartu”. The armed conflicts and the competition between the powers Assyrian and ourartéenne will be alternated with periods of agreement. The world knows the name of Urartu, because it is him which hides, in the Bible, under that of Ararat. The civilization of Urartu, brilliant but transitory, remains often badly known. This kingdom, which existed, make up by people connected with the Hourrites on a territory centered on the Lac of Van, extended to its apogee until in Arménie. Its capital was called Tushpa.

Certain kings made compose of annals, with the image of their Assyrian counterparts where they commemorated their military exploits and their great work. The oldest texts are written in language Assyrian, most recent in urartéen; this language is neither Semitic, nor Indo-European. It belongs to the same family as the Hourrite. Upon the departure, the debt of Urartéens with regard to their Assyrian neighbors is important, but their cultural dependence will decrease under the reigns of Ishpuhini (or Ishpuinis) and of Menua (or Menuas) which sets up the foundations of the kingdom.

History

Origins

The people urartéen seem to be just like Hourrites a descendant of the culture of the Kuro-Araxe, which opens out in Transcaucasie in the current of the 4th-3rd millenium (badly known dating), before extending towards the south. The fact that the language urartéenne presents many common features with the language hourrite of the end of the 3rd millenium (or at least of what one knows) seems to indicate that the separation of the two groups is then recent, and had to be done about the middle of this millenium. Civilization urartéenne such as it thereafter is known occurs in second half of the 2nd millenium in the area of the Lac of Van, which remains a long time the political center of the kingdom of Urartu.

Opposite them, Urartéens were quickly confronted with the Assyrie NS, whose they are subject to a strong influence. This explains why the civilization of this country refers common with those of Hourrites and Assyrie.

In the first times, Urartu is an unimportant adversary for the Assyrian power. It is mentioned for the first time by Salmanazar Ier at the 13th century, under the name of Uruartri . The Assyrians were not deprived nevertheless of punitive campaigns in direction of the countries located at the north of their kingdom, in the area which they name Naïri, of which Urartu forms part. Tukulti-Ninurta Ier conducts a victorious campaign to it. During the weakening of Assyrie at the 10th century, a kingdom is formed after the meeting of the principalities urartéennes and gradually takes importance at the beginning of the 9th century. Towards 850, Salmanazar III attacks the weak king Arame (850-840) and drives out it its capital, Arsashku, before plundering the city and the country around.

Rise to power

The successor of Arame (which does not seem to be his/her son), Sarduri Ier (840-830), poses the bases of the future extension of his kingdom in spite of his court reigns, by transferring his capital to Tushpa and while extending on the surrounding area, becoming Master of the Lake Van. Urartu follows the Assyrian example, and launches out in campaigns since the surroundings of the Lake Van. It can even push back an offensive of its neighbors of the south. He then proclaims in an inscription into Assyrian found in Tushpa “king of the Universe, king of the kings, king of the ground of Naïri”.

Ishpuhini (830-810) conquers the area of Musasir, in the east, the Holy City of the area, residence of the national god Haldi. Urartu has now its two principal centers, Tushpa, its capital political, citadel built on the edge of the Lake Van on a site ideally placed, hard to besiege, and its religious capital, Musasir (of which the localization is still dubious), great this fact very rich city and place of pilgrimage. The organization of the kingdom around this type of fortresses, places parking of troops, of important exchanges and warehouse, takes shape at this period. Ishpuhini continues on its impetus while seizing the Lac of Orumieh (country of Parsua ), where resident in particular the Mèdes. It appoints sobrement “king de Biainili”.

His/her son Menua (810-785), associated with the throne towards the end of the reign of Ishpuini (820-810), seizes the Alzi, in the north of Assyrie and obliges the king of Milid to pay him a tribute. He takes possession of the valley of Murat, then starts to impose the power urartéenne in the rich person valley of the Araxe on north.

The reigns of Ispuhini and Menua mark a great change for Urartu, which becomes a powerful kingdom. It is at that time that the Pantheon of the kingdom is established. The sovereigns also start to undertake large work, of which most remarkable is the channel of Menua, which exists still nowadays, and pleasing of water since the south of the Lake Van towards Tushpa on more than 80 km. Menua is a large builder, who builds or repairs fortresses, and embellishes various temples.

Its successor Argishti Ier (785-756) proves to be a frightening warrior. He continues the push towards north, in direction of the the Caucasus, and seizes completely the rich person valley of Araxe, driving of the campaigns until in the area of current the Erevan. He founds other cities intended to be used as commercial relays between the areas rich in minerals of the north of the Anatolia and the cities of the Lake Van, in particular Erebouni in the valley of Araxe. Argishti I also fights towards the west, in Métilène, then with the Tabal, where it substitutes its influence for that of Assyrie, which crosses a difficult period then. The general Shamshi-ilu, principal Assyrian personality of the time, conducts six campaigns against Argishti, but it does not succeed in weakening it. Urartu, located at the crossroads of rich areas, becomes thus the Master of a very lucrative trade, which will help it to gain power.

The kingdom will continue its rise under the reign of Sarduri II (756-730), which assembles forwardings aiming at seizing areas located at the North-East of the Syria, in the valley the top Euphrate, and subjects the kingdom of Milid definitively. It subjects Métilène and the Commagène ( Kummuhu ), cutting the road bringing of metals to Assyrie since the Taurus. It also finishes ensuring its domination in the valley of Araxe, and seizes the area around the and Çildir Lakes Sevan. In the North-West, he faces the king de Qulha (Colchique). The kingdom is then most powerful of the area, and constitutes a dangerous rival for Assyrie with most badly, which will have to react vis-a-vis this enemy who it had not seen coming, and which starts to encircle it by its expansion towards the west and is. Some small Assyrian troops are defeats during confrontations of average importance. But when Sarduri II takes allies of its contemporary Assur-Nerari V, the true confrontation between these two powers is announced inevitable, and it turns in the favor of Urartéen, which succeeds in putting in rout its adversary towards 753. It is then the apogee of the power of Urartu.

The Urartu-Assyrie opposition

But the ten last years of the reign of Sarduri II coincide in Assyrie with the advent of Teglath-Phalasar III, which restores the power of Assyrie, and seeks to cut down Urartu, become a too dangerous rival. Little time after its establishment, it attacks the vassal allies and of Sarduri II, Arpad, Milid, Gurgum, Kummuhu, Karkemish, and That. Those are put at evil, and call the Help! king d' Urartu. This last intervenes, but is beaten with punt seams by the Assyrians in Commagène, and beats a retreat. The allies of Urartéens in Syria fall the ones after the others, and Teglath-Phalasar III hardens the power of its country. Urartu is not any more size to fight. Sarduri II will have to even undergo towards the end of its reign an intervention of its impetuous adversary, which will slip into its country to the doors of Tushpa, however kept too well so that it can seize some.

Rusa Ier (730-714), carried with the capacity by a palace revolution after the defeat of his/her father, inherits a not very advantageous situation, the ambitions of Urartu having been reduced by their enemy. But Teglath-Phalasar leaves quiet Urartu after the lesson that it inflicted to him. It is Sargon II which will carry a blow of thanks to the kingdom of north, weakened but always awkward. It seizes Karkemish, Kummuhu, Milid, then of Tabal. Rusa I sees its complicated task by a new adversary which is presented: the Cimmériens, come from the north of the Caucasus. They beat the last ally of Urartu, the Phrygie of the king Midas (Mita of Mushku in the Assyrian sources), then put in rout Rusa I, and force it to beat a retreat. Sargon II was informed of its events by spies posted in country urartéen (of the reports/ratios sent by some of them, posted until in Transcaucasia, besides were found), and it considers the moment favourable to pass to the offensive. It is its “eighth countryside” of 714, reported in a text addressed by the king to his god Assur. Urartu, which does not have any more the means of being defended, is fired and with blood, the town of Musasir is plundered, and the statue of the Haldi god is taken along in Assyrie. Sargon does not manage nevertheless to strike in the middle of the country urartéen, and Tushpa remains intact. In the account of Sargon, it is known as that Rusa committed suicide after its defeat.

Last years

After the defeat inflicted by Sargon II, a kind of peace is established between the two powers, which remain each one on their side then. The presence of new dangers in the area (Scythian, Cimmériens, Mèdes) appears to have involved this peace between the two former rivals. Whereas the Assyrians will extend towards the the Middle East, Urartéens push towards north, in direction of the Caucasus.

The successor of Rusa I, Argishti II (713-c.680), makes build the fortress of Altintepe in Anatolia Eastern close to Erzinçan. Cimmériens devastate the country under its reign, weakening it still more, while plunging it during one time of interior disorders. Rusa II, wire and successor of Argishti II, hardens its power and builds large citadels with Rusahinili/Toprakkale close to Van, and with Teishebani /Kamir Blur in the valley of Araxe after the abandonment of Erebouni. The events of second half of the century are very badly known. It is known that the Scythes plunder the area before dominating the Mèdes. The citadels all urartéennes disappear in destruction at this period, but the cause of these events remains dubious. Towards 590, the king mède Cyaxare, after having cut down Assyrie, probably takes Urartu which was not any more that one weak kingdom and constituted only one ridiculous obstacle on its road towards Anatolia.

Art

These people are known for the quality of his work of the Bronze and complex construction their citadels, adapted to the constraints of the ground. Very archaeological beautiful pieces are presented to the museum of civilizations Anatolia with Ankara like with the museum of history of Arménie to Erevan. Urartu left us many objects, informing us about his artistic activity. The kingdom exported its productions, inter alia its cauldrons, until in Greece. The cauldron of Altintepe, carrying four heads of bull in the place of the handles, dates from the 7th century. Urartéens controlled many mines of Cuivre and Fer. In the cities, an important metallurgical activity could develop. The work of the Ivoire also was very developed by Urartéens. In the parts which one discovered, decorating furniture, one finds reasons of Griffon, human face, statuettes of Lion S, etc

The fortress urartéennes

Architecture urartéenne had experienced a very significant development. In this field, the influence of the tradition Hittite /anatolienne seems to have been as important as that come from Mésopotamie of north. Certain palates of this area thus took again the model of the Anatolian Mégaron S. The architecture of the buildings urartéens before was very adapted to the configuration of the country, very mountainous. One found several buildings of this type distributed on all the territory dominated by Urartu: Tushpa, the citadel of Van Kalesi, representative of the oldest stage of the fortresses urartéennes, since it was set up by Sarduri I, but is renovated thereafter; a second dash is represented by Erebouni (Arin Berd), Argishtihinili (Armavir) and Sardurihinili (Cavustepe); Teishebani (Kamir Blur), Rusahinili (Toprakkale), Rusahinili Eidurukai (Ayanis), Rusai-urutur (Bastam) are they among the last fortresses drawn up by the sovereigns of Urartu. Most recent appears to be Altintepe (unknown ancient name).

Which was the function of these fortresses? They were above all administrative, military centers intended to manage the territory. These citadels were used to defend the area (the inhabitants of the city took refuge in the fortress in the event of seat) and to ensure control of it. The bastions were girded of a cyclopean wall made up with blocks of stone of more than 20 tons. Certain rooms of the residential zone of the citadel of Altintepe had a system of drainage, testifying to the control whose proof the builders urartéens made. One also found in these citadels of the important temples, like the sanctuaries of Haldi found in Altintepe, in Erebuni. But they had also an economic role, because they contained important storage sections, where the tax proceeds were stored. They contained also workshops, or one worked in particular metals, as of the parts where one processed the agricultural produce (to make oil and wine). They thus had an unquestionable role in the exchanges, and one includes/understands best the interest that the sovereigns urartéens had to build as many fortresses of this type in their kingdom, of which they were a major component, ensuring his political and economic balance, thanks to a very strict management. The plundering of the sanctuary of Musasir by Sargon II testifies to the richness of the fortresses urartéennes: the palate delivered an equivalent of more than one ton of gold and 5 tons money in invaluable objects, and the temple of Haldi delivered an impressive quantity of weapons (more than 300.000 parts according to the text!).

Architecture urartéenne exerted a strong influence on the close people, Mannéens (Hasanlu), Mèdes (Godin Tepe, Nush-i Jân) and Perses (Pasargades), which takes again part of this heritage to develop their Article.

Religion

Gods of Urartu

The large god of Urartu is Haldi, which is in the beginning an obscure divinity originating in the country of Musasir. When Ishpuini seizes this city, it raises Haldi with the guardian row of divinity of the kingdom, with the imitation of what is Assur in Assyrie. The choice of this divinity as main of Urartu can appear as the will of these people to give a principal divinity who is clean for him. Haldi was represented like a man upright on a lion. Its principal temple was located in the town of Musasir. Its Parèdre is Bagbartu. He is the god more révéré in Urartu, that to which address in priority the sovereigns of the kingdom. He is the national god of the country, which guides the armies towards the victory.

The Haldi/Bagbartu couple is specific to the Pantheon urartéen. The other divinities are as for them common with the Pantheon hourrite. One thus finds in top of the Pantheon the Teisheba god, being equivalent of the hourrite Teshub, god of the Orage, being held on a bull (it is close to the god syro-mésopotamien Addu/Adad), celebrated in the city of Teishebani. Its parèdre is Huba, the equivalent one of the goddess hourrite Hebat. Then the god Shiwini sun comes, (to be brought closer to the hourrite Shimigi, and identifiable with the Mésopotamie N Shamash). One finds also other divinities minor.

Places of worship

The temples urartéens had a particular form. They were turns (it is the direction of the word susi , indicating these temples), consisted of only one concealed of quadrangular plan.

The most representative temple is that of the Haldi god to Altintepe. It was located at the center of a square court of 27 side meters surrounded by galleries of columns out of wooden. Its concealed , girded by a thick stone wall, had a length approaching the 14 meters. Inside, many weapons offered to Haldi were found: spearheads, sceptres, masses of weapons, helmets, shields. They probabement were probabement fixed on the wall, as one sees it in the representation of the temple of Musasir which a Assyrian Bas-relief commemorating gives the plundering of this one.

The gods were also venerated in sanctuaries in the open air, in niches cut in the rock. It with the one of them, is found besides in the rupestral sanctuary of Meher-Kapesi, which one owes of many information on the Pantheon urartéen, since one found there a list of divinities venerated in this country as of the sacrifices that one devoted to them engraved on the rock.

Language and writing

The Urartéen is a language belonging to the same linguistic branch as the Hourrite. It is about a agglutinant Langue, perhaps related with other spoken languages at the origin in the Eastern Transcaucasie.

To transcribe it, Urartéens used the writing Cunéiforme, while taking as a starting point its néo-Assyrian form. Besides they wrote also in Assyrian, before writing in their own language. They also used a hieroglyphic writing inspired of that of the Hittites. The language urartéenne could be translated by the German Johannes Friedrich in the years 1930 thanks to bilingual inscriptions urartéen-Assyrian.

List kings d' Urartu

Arame (v.855-833 or 850-840)
Sarduri {{Ier}} (833-825 or 840-830)
Ishpuhini (825-806 or 830-820)
corégence of Ishpuhini and Menua (820-810)
Menua (806-788 or 810-785)
Argishti {{Ier}} (788-766 or 785-756)
Sarduri II (766-733 or 756-730)
Rusa {{Ier}} (733 or 730-714)
Argishti II (714-685)
Rusa II (685-645)
Sarduri III (645-635) (last king urartéen mentioned by the Assyrian royal Yearly )
Sarduri IV (635-625
Erimena (625-605)
Rusa III (605-590)
Rusa IV (590-585)

Archeological sites

Tushpa (Van Kalesi)
Erebouni (Arin Berd)
Teishebani (Karmir Blur)
Toprakkale
Altintepe
Bastam

See too

External bond

Ourartou and Ourartéens by Dominique Charpin, Directeur of studies at the School practices high studies.

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