Çavuştepe

38.35297222222243.461111111111Koordinaten: 38 ° 21 '11 "N, 43 ° 27' 40" E

Cavustepe is a village in the Turkish province of Van. Cavustepe is 21 km away on the southeastern part of Lake Van of the city of Van.

In Cavustepe are the remains of Urartian fortress Šarduriḫinili ( Sarduris city), built 764-735 BC by King Sarduri II. The fortress is situated on the slopes of Bol Dagi what the fortress gave strategic importance. An important military road led from the Urartian capital Tuspa after Šarduriḫinili and from there via the Kel -i -Shin Pass to Musasir.

Ruins

Šarduriḫinili was built, as Urartu was powerful and is an impressive example of the Urartian architecture, art and culture. Excavations took place under Afif ores 1961-1986. The fortress consists of Šarduriḫinili an acropolis and a lower town. In the smaller upper fort there is a temple of the god Haldi, in the bottom fortress of the palace, depots, stables, workshops, and a temple to the god Irmušini. In other fortresses no temples of other gods were found, but only those for Haldi. Inside the fortress there are cisterns. During the excavations a royal toilet was discovered.

Inscriptions

Many consecration and thanksgiving inscriptions of the king were scattered over the fortress found in the God Haldi. An exemplary inscription reads:

"The greatness of God dḪaldi Sarduri, son of Argišti, this granary erected. There is 5800 kapi (dimension ) [ cereals included ]. "

The fort was destroyed in the 7th century BC, perhaps by the Scythians. In the Middle Ages the fortress stones to build houses were used.