Lower Anzaf (A 2-6A–C)
Three duplicates on large limestone blocks, bearing the foundation inscription of the fortress of Lower (Aşağı) Anzaf about 15 km northeast of the city of Van, were discovered during the construction of a bypass of the Van-Özalp road, which cut through a corner of the fortress. Blocks A and B are preserved in the Van Museum, while Block C is embedded upside down in the base of a house wall built at the foot of the fortress. It is likely that the inscriptions, all bearing the same text, were originally four in number and were walled into the four corners of the fortress’s rectangular wall. Stone A is 0.75 m high, 1.85 m wide, and 1 m deep; the largely mutilated Stone B is 1.85 m high, 1.85 m wide, and 1 m deep; Stone C is 0.55 m high and 1.30 m wide.
Transliteration (CUT V):
A
1 dhal-⸢di-ni-ni uš-ma⸣-a-ši-⸢ni⸣
2 miš-pu-ú-i-ni-še
3 mdsar5-du-ri-hi-ni-še
4 i-ni É.GAL ši-di-iš-tú-ni
5 ba-a-du-si-⸢i⸣-e
6 MAN DAN-NU MAN al-su-i-ni
7 MAN KURbi-ia-i-na-ú-e
B
1 [dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-a-ši-ni]
2 [miš-pu-ú-i-ni-še]
3 [mdsar5-du-]⸢ri⸣-[hi-ni-še]
4 [i]-⸢ni É⸣[.GAL ši-di-iš-tú-ni]
5 ⸢ba⸣-a-du-si-⸢i⸣-[e]
6 [MAN] DAN!-NU ⸢MAN⸣ al-su-[i-ni]
7 [MAN] KURbi-ia-i-na-⸢ú⸣-[e]
C
1 dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-a-ši-ni
2 miš-pu-ú-i-ni-še mdsar5-du-ri-hi-ni-še
3 i-ni É.GAL ši-di-iš-tú-⸢ú⸣-ni
4 ba-du-si-i-e [MAN] DAN-NU
5 MAN al-su-i-ni MAN šú-⸢ú-ra-ú⸣-e
6 MAN KURbi-ia-i-na-ú-e
Translation:
“Through the protection of the god Haldi, Išpuini, son of Sarduri, built this fortress to perfection. (I am) the strong king, great king, (C adds: “king of the land Surili / lands”), the king of Bia lands.”
References:
Dinçol, A. & B. Dinçol. 1995. “Die neuen Inschriften und beschrifteten Bronzefunde aus den Ausgrabungen von den urartaischen Burgen von Anzaf,” in Studio Historiae Ardens (Fs Houwink ten Cate), eds. Th. P. J. van den Hout & J. de Roos, Leiden, pp. 23–55 (28–30 and Plt. 4).
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 110–111, v. 3 pp. 59–60, v. 5 pp. 48–49.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006881).
Image Sources:
M. Salvini, 2008
Bora Bilgin, 2024
Lower Anzaf (A 2-7A–B)
A cylindrical stone (A), likely a column base, with a two-line inscription was found by villagers around 1957 while digging a watering hole near Lower (Aşağı) Anzaf Fortress. The limestone column base has a diameter of 89 cm and a maximum preserved height of 16 cm. It is currently on display in the Van Museum. Another similar stone (B) with an identical inscription was already in the Van Museum’s collection and was later complemented by a fragment found in 2004, which had been used in the wall of a private house north of the city of Van. This fragment preserves the full height of 23 cm. Both artifacts date to the reign of Išpuini, and each example repeats the same sentence twice.
Transliteration:
A
1 dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-ši-ni miš-pu-ú-i-ni-še mdsar5-du-ri-hi-ni-še i-ni É ši-di-iš-tú-ni ba-du-si-i-e
2 [dhal-di-ni]-⸢ni uš-ma-ši-ni⸣ miš-pu-ú-i-ni-še mdsar5-du-ri-hi-ni-še i-ni É ši-di-iš-tú-ni ba-⸢du-si-i-e⸣
B
1 [dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-ši]-ni m⸢iš⸣[-pu-ú-i-ni-še m]dsar5-du-ri-hi-ni-[še i-ni É ši-di-iš-tú-ni ba-du]-si-i-e
2 dhal-di-[ni-ni uš-ma]-ši-ni miš-pu-ú-[i-ni-še m]dsar5-du-ri-hi-ni-[še i-ni É ši-di-iš-tú-ni ba-du]-si-i-e
Translation:
“By the protection of the god Haldi, Išpuini, son of Sarduri, built this building to/with perfection.”
References:
Dinçol, A. & B. Dinçol. 1995. “Die neuen Inschriften und beschrifteten Bronzefunde aus den Ausgrabungen von den urartaischen Burgen von Anzaf,” in Studio Historiae Ardens (Fs Houwink ten Cate), eds. Th. P. J. van den Hout & J. de Roos, Leiden, pp. 23–55 (27–28 and Plt. 4a).
Hulin, P. 1960. “New Urartian Inscribed Stones at Anzaf,” Anatolian Studies 10, 205–207.
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 111–112, v. 3 pp. 60–61, v. 5 pp. 49–50.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006882).
CTU A 2-7A = UKN II 371 = KUKN 25
Image Sources:
P. Hulin, 1960
M. Salvini, 2008
Tayfun Bilgin, 2024
Lower Anzaf (A 2-8)
The cylindrical limestone column base with a single-line inscription was found at Lower Anzaf Fortress. The stone has a diameter of 70 cm and a height of 25 cm. It dates to the reign of Išpuini.
Transliteration:
1 dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-ši-ni miš-pu-ú-i-ni-še mdsar5-du-ri-e-hi-ni-še i-ni É ši-di-iš-tú-ni ba-du-si-i-ni
Translation:
“Through the protection of the god Haldi, Išpuini, son of Sarduri, built this building to perfection.”
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 112, v. 3 p. 62, v. 5 p. 50.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006883).
Image Sources:
Bora Bilgin, 2024
Upper Anzaf (A 5-42A–D)
A foundation text from the fortress at Upper (Yukarı) Anzaf is known from multiple copies, preserved on three complete (A, B, D) and one fragmentary (C) limestone cornerstone blocks. One block (B) was found in 1891 by W. Belck in the village of Anzaf (today Dereüstü). It is inscribed on two perpendicular surfaces with 12- and 6-line inscriptions and measures 70 cm in height, 106 cm in width, and 65 cm in depth. This block was transferred to Tbilisi during the Russian occupation of the region. The other blocks were discovered at and near the susi temple in Upper Anzaf Fortress in 1991 (A and C) and 2014 (D). The complete and better-preserved block (A) was found in situ at the northeast corner of the temple’s east wall and is also inscribed on two surfaces with 12- and 7-line inscriptions. It measures 62 cm in height, 82 cm in width, and 70 cm in depth. Three fragments of block (C) were found by the north wall of the temple, and the fourth block (D) was discovered in a secondary context about 30 meters from the temple. Block D measures 70 cm in height, 68 cm in width, and 70 cm in depth. On blocks A and B, the text is repeated twice on the wider left side and a third time on the narrower right side. On D, and probably also on C, the text appears only once on each side. Block B is in the Georgian Museum in Tbilisi, block C is at the Istanbul University Archaeological Center in Van, and the others (A and D) are in the Van Museum. A replica of block A has been placed in the find spot at Upper Anzaf Fortress.
Transliterations (CTU V; eCUT):
A
left side
1 dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-a-ši-ni
2 mmì-nu-a-še miš-pu-u-i-ni-hi-ni-še
3 dhal-di-i-e e-ú-ri-i-e
4 i-ni su-si-e ši-di-iš-tú-ni
5 É.GAL ši-i-di-iš-tú-ú-ni
6 ba-a-du-ú-si-i-e
7 dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-a-ši-ni
8 mmì-nu-a-še miš-pu-u-i-ni-hi-ni-še
9 dhal-di-i-e e-ú-ri-i-e
10 i-ni su-si-e ši-di-iš-tú-ni
11 É.GAL ši-i-di-iš-tú-ú-ni
12 ba-a-du-ú-si-i-e
right side
1 dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-ši-ni
2 mmì-i-nu-ú-a-še
3 miš-pu-u-i-ni-hi-ni-še
4 dhal-di-e e-ú-ri-i-e
5 i-ni su-si ši-di-iš-tú-ni
6 É.GAL ši-i-di-iš-tú-ni
7 ba-a-du-ú-si-i-e
B
left side
1 [dhal-]⸢di-ni-ni⸣ [uš-]⸢ma⸣-a-ši-[ni]
2 [mmì]-nu-⸢a⸣-[še miš]-pu-ú-i-ni-hi-[ni-še]
3 [dhal-di-i-]⸢e⸣ e-ú-ri-i-⸢e⸣
4 [i-ni] ⸢su-si⸣-e ši-di-iš-tú-[ni]
5 ⸢É⸣.GAL ši-i-di-iš-tú-ú-⸢ni⸣
6 ba-a-du-ú-si-i-e
7 dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-a-ši-⸢ni⸣
8 mmì-nu-a-še miš-⸢pu⸣-u-⸢i⸣-ni-hi-ni-⸢še⸣
9 dhal-di-⸢i⸣-e e-ú-⸢ri⸣-i-e
10 i-ni su-si-e ši-⸢di⸣-iš-tú-ni
11 É.GAL ši-⸢i⸣-di-⸢iš-tú⸣-ú-ni
12 ba-a-du-⸢ú-si⸣-i-⸢e⸣
right side
1 [dhal]-⸢di⸣-ni-ni uš-ma-ši-ni
2 [mmì-nu]-⸢a⸣-še miš-pu-u-i-ni-hi-ni-⸢še⸣
3 [dhal]-di-e e-ú-ri-i-e
4 [i]-⸢ni⸣ su-si-⸢e⸣ ši-di-iš-tú-ni
5 [É.]⸢GAL⸣ ši-i-⸢di⸣-iš-tú-ni
6 [ba]-⸢a⸣-du-ú-si-i-e
C
left side
1 [dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-a-ši-ni]
2 mmì-[nu-a-še m]⸢iš⸣-pu[-ú-i-ni-hi-ni-še]
3 d⸢hal⸣[-di-i-e] e-⸢ú⸣-[ri-i-e]
4 i-ni [su-si-e] ši-⸢di⸣[-iš-tú-ni]
5 É.[GAL ši-]⸢di⸣-[iš-tú-ni]
6 ba-[a-du-ú]-⸢si⸣[-i-e]
D
left side
1 dhal-di-ni-ni
2 uš-ma-a-ši-ni
3 mmì-nu-a-še
4 miš-pu-u-i-ni-hi-ni-še
5 dhal-di-i-e
6 e-ú-ri-i-e
7 i-ni su-si-e
8 ši-di-iš-tú-ni
right side
1 [dhal-di-ni]-⸢ni⸣ uš-ma-ši-ni
2 [mmì-i-nu-ú-a-še m]⸢iš⸣-pu-u-i-ni-hi-ni-še
4 [dhal-di]-e e-ú-ri-i-e
5 [i-ni] ⸢su⸣-si ši-di-iš-tú-ni
6 [É.GAL ši-i]-di-iš-tú-ni
7 [ba-a]-du-ú-si-i-e
Translation:
“Through the protection of the god Haldi, Minua, son of Išpuini, built this tower temple (susi) for the god Haldi, his (or: the) Lord. He (also) built a fortress with/to perfection.”
(text is repeated two/three times on each block)
References:
Dinçol, A. & B. Dinçol. 1995. “Die neuen Inschriften und beschrifteten Bronzefunde aus den Ausgrabungen von den urartaischen Burgen von Anzaf,” in Studio Historiae Ardens (Fs Houwink ten Cate), eds. Th. P. J. van den Hout & J. de Roos, Leiden, pp. 23–55.
Işık, K. 2015. “Yeni Keşfedilen Bir Urartu Yazıtı Işığında Yukarı Anzaf Kalesi Susi Tapınağı Yazıtları,” Colloquium Anatolicum 14, 56–65.
Lehmann-Haupt, C. F. 1928–1935. Corpus Inscriptionum Chaldicarum, Berlin-Leipzig (No. 63).
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 230–232, v. 3 pp. 148–149, v. 5 pp. 145–148.
Tseretheli, G. V. 1939. Urartskie Pamjatniki Muzeja Gruzii/The Urartean Monuments in the Georgian Museum Tbilissi, Tbilisi (Plt. XVII).
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006940).
CTU A 5-42A = KUKN 172b
CTU A 5-42B = CICh 63 = HchI 46 = UKN 71 = KUKN 88
Image Sources:
G. V. Tseretheli, 1939
K. Işık, 2015
M. Salvini, 2018
Bora Bilgin, 2024
Upper Anzaf (A 5-43)
The stone block with a six-line inscription was found in 1957 lying on a slope near the village of Anzaf. The block is damaged on all sides except the inscribed surface. It measures 55 cm in height, 101 cm in width, and 36 cm in depth. The inscription is identical to the one found on the four cornerstone blocks at the susi temple of Upper Anzaf Fortress. The block is on display in the Van Museum.
Transliteration:
1 dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-a-ši-ni
2 mmì-nu-a-še miš-pu-u-i-ni-hi-ni-še
3 dhal-di-i-e e-ú-ri-i-e
4 Ésu-si-e ši-di-iš-tú-ni
5 É.GAL ši-i-di-iš-tú-ú-ni
6 ba-a-du-ú-si-⸢i-e⸣
Translation:
“(1) Through the protection of the god Haldi, Minua, son of Išpuini, (3) built for the god Haldi, his (or: the) Lord, this (susi) temple. (5) He (also) built a fortress to perfection.”
References:
Hulin, P. 1960. “New Urartian Inscribed Stones at Anzaf,” Anatolian Studies 10, 205–207.
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 232–233, v. 3 p. 149, v. 5 pp. 148–149.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006941).
CTU A 5-43 = UKN II 378 = KUKN 89
Image Sources:
Bora Bilgin, 2024
Upper Anzaf (A 5-62)
The incomplete inscribed stone slab consists of two fragments found at different times. The upper piece was discovered in 1891 by W. Belck in the village of Anzaf, built into a house wall. It was acquired by Lehmann-Haupt in 1898 and sent to Berlin; it is now in the possession of the Vorderasiatisches Museum. The other fragment was found in 1995 in the house of Ömer Özbey in the city of Van and is now on display in the Van Museum. The combined slab measures 71 cm in width and 94 cm in height. With the missing lines at the bottom, the original slab must have been just over 1 m high.
Transliteration:
1 dhal-di-ni-⸢ni⸣ uš-ma-ši-ni
2 mmì-i-nu-ú-a-še
3 miš-pu-ú-i-ni-hi-ni-še
4 Ébar-zu-di-⸢bi-du⸣-ú-ni
5 i-ni ⸢za-du⸣-[ni mmì-i-nu-a-i]
6 ⸢É⸣.[bar-zu-di-bi-du-ni ti-ni]
7 É.⸢GAL⸣ [za-du-ni ba-du-si-e]
8 su-ru-⸢qu⸣-x [x x x x]
9 Ébar-zu-di-bi-[du-ú-ni]
10 NA4a-da-nu-sa [x x x]
11 e-ú-e pi-⸢šá⸣-[x x x]
12 qu-ṭu-hu x-[x x x x]
13 e-ú-e x-[x x x]
14 ta-ar-ma-ni [x x x]
15 NA4a-da-nu-sa [x x x]
16 mmì-nu-ú-a-[še a-li]
17 a-lu-še i-ni [DUB-te-e]
18 [tú-li-i-e a-lu-ú-še]
19 [pi-tú-li-e a-lu-ú-še]
Translation:
“(1) Through the protection of the god Haldi, Minua, (3) son of Išpuini, ma[de] this barzudibiduni building; (5) ‘[barzudibiduni of Minua’ is (its) name]. (7) [He (also) made] a fortr[ess to perfection]. . . . (8) . . . a barzudibi[duni] building (of?) adanusa-stone(?) . . . and . . . and . . . a well . . . adanusa-stone(?) . . . (16) Minua says: (as for the one) who [destroys] this [inscription, (as for the one) who damages it, (as for the one) who . . . ] (rest of curse formula not preserved)”
References:
Lehmann-Haupt, C. F. 1928–1935. Corpus Inscriptionum Chaldicarum, Berlin-Leipzig (No. 79).
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 245–246, v. 3 p. 171, v. 5 pp. 164–165.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006960).
CTU A 5-62 = CICh 79 = HchI 55a = UKN 88 = KUKN 114
Image Sources:
Gary Todd, 2016
Bora Bilgin, 2024
Lower Anzaf (A 5-94)
The inscribed stele fragment was found in Lower Anzaf in the 19th century but has been lost since then and is known only from copies.
Transliteration:
1ʹ [dhal-di-i]-⸢ni-ni⸣
2ʹ [al-su-ú-i]-ši-i-[ni]
3ʹ [mmì-i]-nu-ú-a-[ni]
4ʹ [miš]-⸢pu⸣-ú-i-ni-e-[hi]
5ʹ [MAN] tar-a-i-[e]
6ʹ [MAN] ⸢al⸣-su-i-ni-[e]
7ʹ [MAN KUR]bi-i-a-i-na-ú-[e]
8ʹ [a-lu]-si URUṭu-uš-pa-a [URU]
Translation:
“(1ʹ) [Through] the [grea]tness of [the god Haldi] (3ʹ) (I am) [Mi]nua, [son of Išp]uini, (5ʹ) strong [king], great [king], (7ʹ) [king] of the Bia lands, [lo]rd of Ṭušpa-[City].”
References:
Lehmann-Haupt, C. F. 1928–1935. Corpus Inscriptionum Chaldicarum, Berlin-Leipzig (Plt. XXIV).
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 265, v. 3 p. 190, v. 5 p. 182.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006992).
CTU A 5-94 = CICh 98 = HchI 72 = UKN 119 = KUKN 144
Image Sources:
C. F. Lehmann-Haupt, 1928–1935
Upper Anzaf (A 5-100A–E)
Five inscribed cylindrical column bases were found in 2007 during excavations by Oktay Belli of Istanbul University. The limestone bases were found in situ in the “Grand Reception Hall,” with sizes varying between 70–80 cm in diameter and 28–31 cm in height. Four bases have a three-line inscription, and one has a two-line inscription, all repeating the same text.
Transliteration (after CTU V):
1 mmì-nu-a-še miš-pu-i-ni-hi-ni-še i-ni É.GAL ši-di-iš-tú-ni ba-du-si-i-e
2 mmì-nu-a-še miš-pu-i-ni-hi-ni-še i-ni É.GAL ši-di-iš-tú-ni ba-du-si-i-e
3 mmì-nu-a-še miš-pu-i-ni-hi-ni-še i-ni É.GAL ši-di-iš-tú-ni ba-du-si-i-e
Translation:
“Minua, son of Išpuini, built this fortress to perfection.”
References:
Belli, O. 2008. “2007 yılı Yukarı Anzaf Urartu Kalesi kazısı,” Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı 30-1, 449–470.
Belli, O., A. M. Dinçol & B. Dinçol. (2009). “Bronze votive rings with Assyrian inscriptions found in the Upper Anzaf fortress in Van,” Colloquium Anatolicum 8, 91–124 (Figs. 4–6).
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 5 p. 186.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006998).
Image Sources:
O. Belli et al., 2009
Bora Bilgin, 2024
Tayfun Bilgin, 2024
Upper Anzaf (A 8-40)
An inscription on a rectangular stone, inserted as a cornerstone in the foundation of a house in the village of Anzaf, was discovered in 1969. By 2004, it was still in the same position but was completely illegible. It evidently comes from the site of Upper (Yukarı) Anzaf. Its dimensions are: height 16 cm, width 56 cm, thickness 26 cm. Salvini (2018) speculates that the width of 56 cm and the reference to “1 cubit of stone” might imply that this stone served as a standard measure for one “Anzaf Cubit.”
Transliteration:
1 mar-gi-iš-ti-še a-li-e
2 šú-i-ni a-din-ni a-ka-i-e
3 ⸢1?⸣ 1-KÙŠMEŠ NA₄MEŠ ʾa-ha-e
4 [m]⸢ar⸣-gi-iš-ti-še ú-hi-ni-e
Translation:
“Argišti says: all . . . x cubits (of) stone had to be collected(?). Argišti (built) this uhini building.”
References:
Salvini, M. 1973. “Urartäisches epigraphisches Material aus Van und Umgebung,” Belleten 37, 279–287. (No. 3)
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 366–367, v. 3 p. 248, v. 5 pp. 235–236.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007041).
CTU A 8-28A = KUKN 184
Image Sources:
M. Salvini, 2008