Bronze Votive Rings with Assyrian Inscriptions found in the Upper Anzaf Fortress in Van
Öz
The Lower and Upper Anzaf Urartian fortresses are located 11 km northwest of the modern city of Van (Map 1). The former was built by the Urartian king Išpuini (830-810 BC) while the latter by his son Menua (810- 786 BC) (Belli 1999: 5; 2001a: 39; 2001b: 165; 2003b: 61). The Lower Fortress has a 62 x 98 m rectangular plan and was constructed on an area covering 6,000 m2. 1900 m above the sea level, the fortress is situated on a rocky cliff that is neither very steep nor rough. It was founded completely for military purposes at the intersection of important military and trade routes coming from Transcaucasia in the North and Northwest Iran in the east, prior to reaching the Urartian capital of Tušpa (Van Fortress). For example, the six edifice inscriptions found there mention that King Išpuini built a strong fortress. The likes of the monumental ramparts of the fortress, of cyclopic construction using huge boulders without mortar or bastions, have yet to be found in other parts of the Urartian Kingdom.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Kaynakça
- Belli, O. 1999 The Anzaf Fortresses and the Gods of Urartu, İstanbul.
- 2001a “Bronze Votive Rings with Cuneiform Inscriptions from Van-Upper Anzaf Fortress”, R. M. Boehmer – J. Maran (eds.), Lux Orientis, Archäologie zwischen Asien und Europa, Festschrift für Harald Hauptmann, Rahden: 39-43.
- 2001b “Excavations on the Upper and Lower Anzaf Urartian Fortresses”, O. Belli (ed.), Istanbul University’s Contributions to Archaeology in Turkey (1932- 2000), İstanbul: 165-172.
- 2003a “Van-Aşağı ve Yukarı Anzaf Urartu Kaleleri Kazısı: Bir Ara Değerlendirme (1991-2002) / Excavations at Van- Lower and Upper Anzaf Urartian Fortresses: An Intermediary Evaluation (1991- 2002)”, CollAn II: 1-49.
- 2003b “Historical Development of the Kingdom of Urartu”, F. Özden (ed.), Urartu: Savaş ve Estetik-Urartu: War and Aesthetics, İstanbul: 45-73.
- 2003c “Metal Artefacts and Weapons with Cuneiform Inscriptions”, F. Özden (ed.), Urartu: Savaş ve Estetik-Urartu: War and Aesthetics, İstanbul: 129-131.
- 2004 “Bronze Quivers with Cuneiform Inscriptions from Van- Upper Anzaf Fortress”, A. Sagona (ed.), A View from the Highlands, Archaeological Studies in Honour of Charles Burney, Ancient Near Eastern Studies 12, Melbourne: 277-298.
- 2005a “Aşağı ve Yukarı Anzaf Urartu Kaleleri, 2003 Yılı Çalışmaları- Upper and Lower Anzaf Urartian Fortresses, 2003 Campaign”, TÜBA-AR VIII: 181- 184.
- 2005b “Aşağı ve Yukarı Anzaf Urartu Kaleleri / 2004 Yılı Çalışmaları- Upper and Lower Anzaf Urartian Fortresses”, 2004 Campaign”, TÜBA-AR VIII: 184- 186.
- 2006 “Yukarı Anzaf Kalesi’nde Bulunan Urartu Kralı II. Argişti’ye Ait Çiviyazılı Bronz Adak Kalkanı / Urartian King Argisti’s (II) Bronze Votive Shield with Cuneiform Inscription from Upper Anzaf Fortress”, B. Avunç (ed.), Hayat Erkanal’a Armağan, Kültürlerin Yansıması-Studies in Honor of Hayat Erkanal, Cultural Reflections, İstanbul: 145-154.