- Type
- Fortress
- Origins
- 781 BC · 8th century BC per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Architect
- Argishti I of Urartu
- Coordinates
- 40.1407°, 44.5380°
History
The fortress on Arin Berd hill was built in 782 BC by Argishti I, king of Urartu, as recorded in a cuneiform inscription carved in stone. Erebuni guarded the northern frontier of the kingdom and the Ararat plain, and according to the inscription it was settled with captives from conquered lands. Within its walls stood a palace, a temple of the god Haldi and storerooms for wine and grain. After the fall of Urartu the Achaemenids made use of the fortress, which later slowly fell into ruin. The inscription naming the site was found in 1950 and excavations continued for decades. In 1968 Yerevan celebrated its 2750th anniversary and a museum opened at the foot of the hill.
What to see
On the hilltop you can see partly reconstructed mudbrick walls on stone foundations, a colonnaded courtyard and palace halls with recreated sections of colourful wall paintings. The Erebuni Museum below displays original cuneiform inscriptions, weapons, pottery and objects of bronze and silver. The walls offer a sweeping view over Yerevan and, on a clear day, Mount Ararat.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q733610
Popularity: articles about this site in 41 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).