Foundation Inscription (A 8-17A–B)
The text is known from two stone blocks from the fortress of Arin Berd. The first (A) was found by K. L. Oganesian during excavations. The second (B) was found in situ in 1958 in the palace of Argišti. Both bear exactly the same text. Stone A measures 38 x 69 cm (H x W) and is in the Armenian History Museum in Yerevan. Stone B remains in situ at Arin Berd.
Transliteration A and B (eCUT):
1 dhal-di-ni-ni al-su-i-ši-ni
2 mar-gi-iš-ti-še mmì-nu-a-hi-ni-še
3 i-ni É.GAL ba-du-si ši-di-iš-tú-ni
4 te-ru-bi URUer-bu-ú-ni-ni ti-ni
5 KURbi-a-i-na-ú-e uš-ma-a-še
6 KURlu-lu-i-na-ú-<i> na-pa-hi-a-i-di
7 mar-gi-iš-ti-še a-li qi-u-ra-ni
8 qu-ul-di-ni ma-nu za-du-ú-li
9 ar-ni-ši-ni-li DAN-NU iš-ti-ni
10 dhal-di-ni-ni al-su-i-ši-ni
11 mar-gi-iš-ti-ni mmì-nu-a-hi
12 MAN DAN-NU MAN KURbi-a-i-na-ú-e
13 a-lu-si URUṭu-uš-pa-a-e URU
Translation:
“(1) Through the greatness of the god Haldi Argišti, son of Minua, built this fortress to perfection. (4) I gave it the name “the City Erbuni” for the protection of the Bia lands and for the intimidation of the enemy land. (7) Argišti says: the land was deserted, I accomplished mighty undertakings here. (10) Through the greatness of the god Haldi (I am) Argišti, son of Minua, strong king, king of the Bia lands, lord of Ṭušpa-City.”
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 354–355, v. 3 pp. 231–232, v. 5 pp. 223–224.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007018).
CTU A 8-17A= HchI 91A = UKN 138 = KUKN 197
CTU A 8-17B= UKN II 387 = KUKN 198
Image Sources:
Piergiovanna Grossi, 2023 (CC BY 4.0)
Evgeny Genkin, 2007 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Foundation Inscription (A 8-18)
An inscription on a large basalt stone from Arin Berd was found during excavations in 1968. The block measures approximately 60 cm in height, 80 cm in width, and 70 cm in depth and is now in the Erebuni Museum in Yerevan.
Transliteration:
1 dhal-di-e e-ú-ri-e i-ni É
2 mar-gi-iš-ti-še mmì-nu-a-hi-ni-še
3 ši-di-iš-tú-ni É.GAL ba-du-si
4 te-ru-bi URUer-bu-ú-ni-ni ti-ni
5 KURbi-a-i-na-ú-e uš-ma-a-še
6 KURlu-lu-i-na-ú-<i> na-pa-hi-a-i-di
7 dhal-di-ni-ni al-su-i-ši-ni
8 mar-gi-iš-ti-ni mmì-nu-a-hi
9 MAN DAN-NU MAN KURbi-i-a-na-ú-e
10 a-lu-si URUṭu-uš-pa-a-e URU
Translation:
“(1) For the god Haldi, the (or: his) Lord, Argišti, son of Minua, built this building, and a fortress to perfection. (4) I gave it the name Erbuni; as protection of the Bia lands, and for the intimidation of the enemy land. (7) Through the greatness of the god Haldi (I am) Argišti, son of Minua, strong king, king of the Bia lands, lord of Ṭušpa-City.”
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 355–356, v. 3 p. 232, v. 5 pp. 224–225.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007019).
CTU A 8-18= UKN II 388 = KUKN 200
Image Sources:
Jona Lendering, 2017
Foundation Inscription (A 8-19)
An inscription on a large block was found during excavations in 1968 at Arin Berd, the site of the Urartian city Erebuni, located on the southeast side of Yerevan. The block measures 33 cm in height and 59 cm in width and is now in the Erebuni Museum in Yerevan.
Transliteration:
1 [d]hal-di-e e-ú-⸢ri⸣-[e i-ni É]
2 [m]⸢ar⸣-gi-iš-ti-še m[mì-nu-a-hi-ni-še]
3 [ši]-di-iš-tú-ni É.[GAL ba-du-si]
4 [te]-⸢ru⸣-bi URUer-bu-ú-[ni-ni ti-ni]
5 [KUR]bi-a-i-na-ú-e ⸢uš⸣-[ma-še]
6 ⸢KUR⸣lu-lu-i-na-ú-<i> na-pa-hi-[a-i-di]
7 mar-gi-iš-ti-še a-li qi-[ú-ra-ni]
8 qu-ul-di-i-ni ma-nu za-⸢du⸣-[ú-li]
9 ar-ni-u-ši-ni-li DAN-NU ⸢iš⸣-[ti-ni]
10 mar-gi-iš-ti-i-ni ⸢m⸣[mì-nu-a-hi]
Translation:
“(1) [For] the god Haldi, the (or: his) Lord, Argišti, son of Minua, built [this building] (and) a fort[ress to perfection]. (4) He [gav]e it the name “the City Erbuni”; as pro[tection] of the Bia lands and for the intimidation of the enemy land. (7) Argišti says: the la[nd] was deserted, I accomplished mighty undertakings here. (10) (I am) Argišti, [son of Minua].”
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 356, v. 3 p. 233, v. 5 p. 225.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007020).
CTU A 8-19= UKN II 389 = KUKN 201
Image Sources:
M. Salvini, 2008
Foundation Inscription (A 8-20)
The inscribed wall block was found in situ at Arin Berd, the ancient Erebuni, on the left wall of the palace entrance. It measures 32 cm in height and 53 cm in width.
Transliteration:
1 dhal-di-ni-ni al-su-ši-ni
2 mar-gi-i-iš-ti-i-še
3 mmì-i-nu-ú-a-hi-ni-še
4 i-ni É.GAL ba-du-si-e
5 ši-i-di-i-iš-tú-ú-ni
6 dhal-di-ni-ni al-su-ši-ni
7 mar-gi-iš-ti-ni mmì-nu-a-hi
8 MAN DAN-NU MAN al-su-ú-i-ni
9 MAN KURbi-i-a-i-na-ú-e
10 a-lu-si URUṭu-uš-pa-e URU
Translation:
“(1) Through the greatness of the god Haldi Argišti, son of Minua, built this fortress to perfection. (6) Through the greatness of the god Haldi (I am) Argišti, son of Minua, strong king, great king, king of the Bia lands, lord of Ṭušpa-City.”
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 356–357, v. 3 p. 233, v. 5 pp. 225–226.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007021).
CTU A 8-20= UKN II 390 = KUKN 199
Image Sources:
M. Salvini, 2008
Temple Inscription (A 8-21A–B)
Two inscriptions of identical content are engraved on basalt stones on both sides of the entrance to the susi temple of the city of Erebuni (modern Arin Berd), dedicated to the local god Iubša. Both stones are 20.4 cm high and 73.4 cm wide and remain in situ.
Transliteration A and B:
1 di-ú-ub-šá-a i-ni Ésu-u-si-e
2 mar-gi-iš-ti-i-še mmì-nu-a-hi-ni-še
3 ši-di-iš-tú-ni mar-gi-iš-ti-še a-li
4 qi-ú-ra-a-ni qu-ul-di-i-ni ma-a-nu
5 ú-i gi-e-i iš-ti-ni ši-da-ú-ri-e
6 mar-giš-ti-ni MAN DAN-NU MAN al-su-i-ni
7 MAN KURbi-a-i-na-ú-e a-lu-si URUṭu-uš-pa URU
Translation:
“(1) For the god Iubša, Argišti, son of Minua, built this susi temple. (3) Argišti says: the land was deserted, nothing had (ever) been built (here before). (6) (I am) Argišti, strong king, great king, king of the Bia lands, lord of Ṭušpa-City.”
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 357, v. 3 pp. 234–235, v. 5 pp. 226–227.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007022).
CTU A 8-21A–B= UKN II 396–397 = KUKN 195–196
Image Sources:
Jona Lendering, 2017
Column Bases (A 8-23A–D)
Four column bases with an identical single-line inscription were found at Arin Berd, the ancient Erebuni, during excavations. Two bases remain in situ, one is in the Armenian History Museum, and another is in the Erebuni Museum.
Transliteration A–D:
dhal-di-ni-ni al-su-i-ši-ni mar-gi-iš-ti-i-še mmì-i-nu-ú-a-hi-ni-e-še i-ni É za-a-du-ú-ni
Translation:
“Through the greatness of the god Haldi Argišti, son of Minua, built this building.”
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 358–359, v. 3 p. 236, v. 5 pp. 227–228.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007024).
CTU A 8-23A–D= UKN II 391–394 = KUKN 203–206
Image Sources:
Antonov14, 2005 (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Temple Inscription (A 8-24)
An inscribed stone block was found in situ at Arin Berd, to the left of the so-called Haldi temple. It measures 29 cm in height and 65 cm in width. A broken corner fragment of the stone is in the Armenian History Museum in Yerevan.
Transliteration:
1 dhal-di-i-e e-ú-ri-i-e
2 i-ni É mar-gi-iš-ti-še
3 mì-nu-a-hi-ni-še ši-di-iš-tú-ú-ni
4 mar-gi-iš-ti-i-še a-li
5 i-na-ni i-me-na-ni e-di-ni
6 ṣi-bu-li-ni ši-du-li-ni
7 mì-i e-ši-me-ṣi el-mu-še
8 ma-a-nu-ú-ni-e
Translation:
“(1) For the god Haldi, his (or: the) Lord, Argišti, son of Minua, built this building. (4) Argišti says: this foundation furthermore . . .” (rest untranslatable)
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 359, v. 3 p. 237, v. 5 p. 228.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007025).
CTU A 8-24= UKN II 395 = KUKN 202
Image Sources:
M. Salvini, 2008
Construction.am, 2020
Granary Inscription (A 8-28A–E)
A short granary inscription of Argišti I is known from five examples from Arin Berd. All five bear the same four-line inscription with minor spelling differences.
A: The basalt stone, with some edge damage, was excavated by A. Ivanovsky in Ganlı-tapa (now Arin Berd) in 1894. It measures 20.5 cm in height, 43 cm in width, and 31 cm in thickness and is in the State Historical Museum in Moscow.
B: The rectangular stone block was excavated in Arin Berd in 1959. It measures 22 cm in height, 50.5 cm in width, and 41 cm in thickness and is in the Yerevan City Museum.
C: The rectangular stone block was excavated in Arin Berd in 1961. It measures 20.5 cm in height and 52.5 cm in width and is in the Erebuni Museum in Yerevan.
D: The rectangular stone block was excavated in Arin Berd in the 1960s. It measures 27 cm in height and 57 cm in width and is in the Armenian History Museum in Yerevan.
E: The rectangular stone block was excavated in Arin Berd in 1966. It is similar in size to the others and is in the Armenian History Museum in Yerevan.
Transliteration A (after CTU V):
1 [m]ar-giš-ti-i-⸢še⸣
2 [m]⸢mì⸣-nu-a-hi-ni-⸢še⸣
3 i-ni ʾa-ri šú-[u-ni]
4 10 LIM 1 ME ka-pi iš-⸢ti⸣-[ni]
Transliteration B (CTU V):
1 mar-giš-ti-i-še
2 mmì-nu-a-hi-ni-še
3 i-ni ʾa-a-ri šú-u-ni
4 10 LIM 1 ME ka-pi iš-ti-ni
Transliteration C (CTU V):
1 mar-giš-ti-i-še
2 mmì-nu-a-hi-ni-še
3 i-ni ʾa-ri šú-ú-ni
4 10 LIM 1 ME ka-pi iš-ti-ni
Transliteration D and E (CTU V):
1 mar-giš-ti-i-še
2 mmì-nu-a-hi-ni-še
3 i-ni ʾa-ri šú-u-ni
4 10 LIM 1 ME ka-pi iš-ti-ni
Translation:
“Argišti, son of Minua, filled this silo. 32057 kapi (of grain) are here.
References:
Nikolsky, M. V. 1896. Klinoobraznye nadpisi Zakavkaz’ia, Materīaly po arkheologīi Kavkaza V, Moskva (No XXII, Plt. XXIII).
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 360–362, v. 3 pp. 240–242 (image of A 8-28E is incorrect), v. 5 pp. 229–230.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007029).
CTU A 8-28A = CICh 128 = HchI 96 = UKN 139 = KUKN 208
CTU A 8-28B–E = UKN II 398, 399, 401, 400 = KUKN 209, 210, 207, 211
Image Sources:
M. V. Nikolsky, 1896
M. Salvini, 2008
Jona Lendering, 2017
Ašihusi Inscription (A 9-20)
The inscribed rectangular basalt slab was found in 1967 during excavations at Arin Berd. The stone measures 64.5 cm in height, 51 cm in width, and 27 cm in thickness and is currently on display in the Erebuni Museum in Yerevan. The 16-line inscription is framed with a line. The text concerns the foundation of an ašihusi building and two granaries at Arin-berd.
Transliteration:
1 dhal-di-i-ni-ni
2 al-su-ú-i-ši-ni
3 mdsar5-du-ri-i-še
4 mar-giš-ti-hi-ni-še
5 i-ni Éa-ši-hu-si
6 za-du-ni e-ʾa i-ni-li
7 ʾa-ri-li šú-ʾa-li
8 an-da-ni DUB-ti-ni-e
9 10 LIM 2 LIM 6 ME BANEŠ iš-ti-ni
10 sal-ma-at-hi DUB-ti-ni-e
11 10 LIM 1 LIM 5 ME BANEŠ iš-ti-ni
12 PAP 20 LIM 4 LIM 1 ME BANEŠ iš-ti-ni
13 mdsar5-du-ri-i-ni
14 mar-gi-iš-ti-e-hi
15 MAN DAN-NU MAN KURbi-a-i-na-ú-e
16 a-lu-si URUṭu-uš-pa URU
Translation:
“(1) Through the greatness of the god Haldi Sarduri, son of Argišti, made this banquet hall(?), and filled these silos: (8) on the right(?) side of the inscription there are 12600 BANEŠ (of grain), and on the left(?) side of the inscription there are 11500 BANEŠ. (12) All together there are 24100 BANEŠ. (13) (I am) Sarduri, son of Argišti, strong king, king of the Bia lands, lord of Ṭušpa-City.”
References:
Salvini, M. 1969. “New Urartian Inscriptions from the Excavations at Arin-berd, Soviet Armenia,” SMEA 9, 7–24 (No. IV).
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 444–445, v. 3 p. 280, v. 5 pp. 273–274.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007065).
CTU A 9-20 = UKN II 419 = KUKN 265
Image Sources:
M. Salvini, 2008
Jona Lendering, 2017
Granary Inscription (A 9-21)
The fragmentary slab preserves the lower right corner of a short inscription about the founding of a granary. It was excavated in 1950 at Arin Berd, the ancient Erebuni. The fragment measures 41 cm in height and 31 cm in width and is currently in the Armenian History Museum in Yerevan.
Transliteration:
1 [mdsar5-du-ri-še]
2 [mar-giš-ti-hi-ni-še]
3 [i-ni] ⸢É ʾa⸣-[ri]
4 [šú-ú-ni] 5 LIM ⸢1 ME⸣
5 [ka-pi] iš-ti-ni
6 [md]⸢sar5⸣-du-ri-ni
7 [mar]-giš-ti-e-hi
8 [MAN DAN-NU] ⸢MAN⸣ al-su-i-ni
9 [MAN KURbi-a]-i-na-a-ú-e
10 [MAN KUR.KUR]-⸢ú⸣-e a-lu-si
11 [URUṭu]-⸢uš⸣-pa-e URU
Translation:
“(1) [Sarduri, son of Argišti, filled this] si[lo]. 5100 [kapi] (of grain) are here. (6) (I am) [Sa]rduri, son of [Ar]gišti, (8) [strong king], great [ki]ng, [king of the Bi]a lands, (10) [king] of the [lands], lord of the [Ṭu]špa-City.”
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 445, v. 3 p. 281, v. 5 p. 274.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007066).
CTU A 9-21 = HchI 111c = UKN 164 = KUKN 254
Image Sources:
M. Salvini, 2008
Granary Inscription (A 9-22A–B)
Two building blocks with almost identical short inscriptions about a granary were found at Arin Berd. One (A), found in 1967, measures 42 cm in height, 60 cm in width, and 30 cm in thickness and is on display in the State Museum of Ethnography in Sardarapat. The other (B) is on display at the Erebuni Museum.
Transliteration (after eCUT):
A
1 mdsar5-du-ri-še
2 mar-giš-ti-hi-ni-še
3 i-ni Éʾa-ri šú-ni
4 10 LIM 1 ME ka-pi iš-ti-ni
B
1 mdsar5-du-ri-i-še
2 mar-giš-ti-hi-ni-še
3 i-ni Éʾa-ri šú-ni
4 10 LIM 1 ME ka-pi iš-ti-ni
Translation:
“Sarduri, son of Argišti, filled this silo. (4) 10100 kapi (of grain) are here.”
References:
Salvini, M. 1969. “New Urartian Inscriptions from the Excavations at Arin-berd, Soviet Armenia,” SMEA 9, 7–24 (No. I).
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 445–446, v. 3 pp. 281–282, v. 5 pp. 274–275.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007067).
CTU A 9-22A–B = UKN II 420 = KUKN II 266
Image Sources:
M. Salvini, 2008
Jona Lendering, 2017
Granary Inscription (A 9-23)
The rectangular building block concerning a granary was found in 1967 at Arin Berd. The inscription appears incomplete, with a blank fourth line normally reserved for the amount of storage. The block measures 19 cm in height and 49 cm in width and is on display in the Erebuni Museum.
Transliteration:
1 mdsar5-du-ri-i-še
2 mar-giš-ti-hi-ni-še
3 i-ni Éʾa-ri šú-u-ni
4 (vacat)
Translation:
“Sarduri, son of Argišti, filled this silo.”
References:
Salvini, M. 1969. “New Urartian Inscriptions from the Excavations at Arin-berd, Soviet Armenia,” SMEA 9, 7–24 (No. II).
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 446, v. 3 p. 282, v. 5 p. 275.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007068).
CTU A 9-23 UKN II 421 = KUKN 267
Image Sources:
M. Salvini, 2008
Jona Lendering, 2017
Granary Inscription (A 9-24)
The building block with a granary inscription was excavated in 1967 at Arin Berd. The block measures 27 cm in height and 48.5 cm in width and is on display in the Erebuni Museum in Yerevan.
Transliteration:
1 dhal-di-i-ni-ni
2 al-su-i-ši-i-ni
3 mdsar5-du-ri-i-še
4 mar-giš-ti-hi-ni-še
5 i-ni Éʾa-ri šú-u-ni
6 10 LIM 1 ME ka-pi iš-ti-ni
Translation:
“Through the greatness of the god Haldi Sarduri, son of Argišti, filled this silo. 10100 kapi (of grain) are here.”
References:
Salvini, M. 1969. “New Urartian Inscriptions from the Excavations at Arin-berd, Soviet Armenia,” SMEA 9, 7–24 (Nr. III).
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 446–447, v. 3 p. 283, v. 5 pp. 275–276.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007069).
CTU A 9-24 = UKN II 422 = KUKN 268
Image Sources:
M. Salvini, 2008
Jona Lendering, 2017
Silo Inscription (A 14-6)
The slab with a three-line silo inscription of Rusa III was found in 1968 at Arin Berd. It measures 23 cm high and 64 cm wide and is preserved in the Erebuni Museum in Yerevan.
Transliteration:
1 mru-sa-še me-ri-me-na-hi-ni-[še]
2 i-ni Éʾa-ri-e šú-ú-[ni]
3 6 LIM 8 ME 40 8 ka-pi iš-ti-ni
Translation:
“Rusa, son of Erimena, fill[ed] this silo. 6848 kapi-units (of grain) are here.”
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 630, v. 3 p. 382, v. 5 p. 356.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007115).
CTU A 14-6 = UKN II 458 = KUKN 444
Image Sources:
Bora Bilgin, 2024