Erebuni Fortress

Erebuni, also Irbuni is a fortress from the beginning of the 8th century BC, which has been built by the Urartian kings Argišti I and II Sarduri. Today, Erebuni is on the surface Arin Berd ( Ganli Tepe ) in the southern part of the Armenian capital Yerevan. According to some researchers, the name of Yerevan is derived from this fort. Irpuni was left under Rusa II in favor of Teišebai URU. Today, one of the districts of Yerevan bears the name Erebuni (Armenian Էրեբունի ).

Excavations

After early excavations had taken place in the 19th century, the ruins were systematically investigated by archaeologists of the Pushkin Museum in Moscow and the Armenian Academy of Sciences since 1947 .. Since 2007, the University of Yerevan digs along with the UCLA Berkeley in Erebuni. In Yerevan, the finds are exhibited in 1968 finished the 2750 anniversary of the city of Erebuni Museum. The museum is located at the foot of the hill on which is Erebuni.

Buildings

Erebunis most important monument is the Castle. It was built around a garden in the center. In the right part of the castle, the rooms of the king were. In the remaining part of the fortress, there are rooms for travelers and storerooms; also a small temple.

Inscriptions

A dedicatory inscription of the king Argišti I. to the kingdom to God Haldi is:

" The God Haldi, the Lord Argišti, son of Menua has built this temple and this mighty fortress. I certain Irbuni as its name, the Biai countries ( = Urartu ), the rule and the Lului countries ( = foreign countries) submission. The size of the Haldi is the Argišti, son of Menua, the strong king, the king of Biai countries, the shepherd of the city Tuspa. Through the power of the god Haldi Argišti, son of Menua has, this fortress built fully dent and given her the name Irpuni. ( It was built ) for the power of Biainili ( and ) for the reduction of the enemy countries. Argišti speaks: The land was wilderness; I have done great things here. "