Karagündüz (A 3-9)
The basalt stele with a rounded top was found in the 1890s in the village of Karagündüz, on the eastern shore of Lake Erçek. It is inscribed on both sides. The stele is broken at the bottom, has some damage around the corners, and the reverse side features several crosses carved at a later period. The existing fragment is 188 cm in height, 70 cm in width, and 28 cm in thickness. It is estimated that about 15 lines of the inscription have been lost from the broken bottom section. It contains three copies of the same text: two on the front (lines obv. 1–30 and obv. 31–44, with the second copy missing approximately 15 lines) and one on the back (lines rev. 1–38). The broken lines at the bottom of the reverse side may have contained a curse formula. The stele is on display in the Van Museum.
Transliteration:
obverse
1 dhal-di-i-e e-ú-ri-i-e
2 miš-pu-ú-i-ni-še mdsar5-du-ri-hi-ni-še
3 mmì-i-nu-ú-a-še miš-pu-ú-i-ni-hi-ni-⸢še⸣
4 [i]-⸢ni⸣ pu-lu-si-e ku-ú-i-tu-ú
5 [ d]hal-di-ni uš-ta-bi ma-si-ni-e GIŠšú-ri-e
6 ⸢ka⸣-ru-ni URUme-eš15-ta-⸢ni⸣ ka-⸢ru⸣-ni KURpár-šú-a-i
7 KURe-ba-a-ni-i dhal-di-ni ku-ru-⸢ni⸣
8 [ d]hal-di-ni GIŠšú-ri-i ku-ru-⸢ni⸣
9 dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-a-ši-i-⸢ni⸣
10 [uš]-ta-a-li URUme-e-eš15-ta-a-e-⸢di⸣
11 [m]⸢iš⸣-pu-ú-i-ni-ni mdsar5-du-ri-e-⸢hé⸣
12 [mmì]-i-nu-ú-a-ni miš-pu-ú-i-ni-e-⸢hé⸣
13 [ma-a]-nu miš-pu-ú-i-ni [ku]-ru-ni mmì-nu-ú-a ku-⸢ru⸣-[ni]
14 [LÚ]⸢hu⸣-ra-di-na-a 1 ME 6 GIŠGIGIR 9 ⸢LIM⸣ [x x?] 1 ME 74 PIT-HAL-⸢LU⸣[MEŠ]
15 [x]+2 LIM 7 ME 4 LÚÉRINMEŠ GÌRMIN.MEŠ ú-[lu]-uš-[ta-bi dhal-di-ni]
16 [miš]-pu-ú-i-ni-e md[sar5-du-ri]-hi-ni-⸢e⸣
17 [mmì]-i-⸢nu⸣-ú-a miš-pu-ú-i-⸢ni⸣-e-hi-ni-⸢e⸣
18 [ha-a]-i-tú URUme-eš15-ta-a-ni URUqu-ú-a-⸢ni⸣
19 [URUšá]-a-ri-tú-ni URUni-i-gi-bi-i-⸢ni⸣
20 [KURpár]-šú-a-i KUR-ni nu-na-a-[bi] iš-⸢ti⸣-ni-⸢ni⸣
21 [x] ⸢LIM⸣ 4 ME 83 KU.X [x x] ⸢LIM⸣ 1 ME 60 LÚMEŠ še-hi-[ri]
22 [x] ⸢LIM⸣ 6 LIM 6 ME MUNUSMEŠ LÚ⸢TUR⸣MEŠ 1 LIM 1 ME 20 ANŠE.KUR.RA⸢MEŠ⸣
23 [10 LIM] ⸢2⸣ LIM GU4pa-a-hi-ni ⸢3⸣ ME 65 ANŠE.A.AB.BA.⸢MEŠ⸣
24 [x x a]-ti-bi 5 LIM UDUMEŠ dhal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-ši-⸢ni⸣
25 [i-na]-ni pa-ar-tú-⸢ú miš⸣-pu-ú-i-ni-[še]
26 [mdsar5]-du-ri-e-hi-ni-še mmì-nu-a-še miš-pu-ú-[i-ni-hi-ni-še]
27 [mì-i] a-li KUR.KURMEŠ-a-še i-ri-bi-tú-⸢ú⸣
28 [i]-ú É.GALMEŠ áš-ú-[la-a-tu!?] ⸢ka⸣-am-ni LÚú-e-di-a-[ni]
29 [ʾa]-a-ši-ni-e-i URUṭu-uš-pa-i [URU]
30 [ma-a]-nu-ú i-ni-[ni gu-ur-da]-ri-⸢e⸣
31 [ dhal]-di-i-e e-ú-ri-i-[e]
32 [miš]-⸢pu⸣-ú-i-ni-še mdsar5-du-ri-hi-ni-[še]
33 [mmì]-i-nu-ú-a-še miš-pu-ú-i-ni-hi-ni-[še]
34 [i]-ni pu-lu-si-[e ku-ú-i-tu-ú]
35 [ d]hal-di-ni uš-ta-bi ma-si-ni-e GIŠšú-ri-[e]
36 [ka]-ru-ni URUme-eš15-[ta-ni] ⸢ka⸣-ru-ni KURpár-šú-a-[i]
37 [KUR]e-ba-a-ni-i dhal-di-ni ku-ru-[ni]
38 [ d]hal-di-ni GIŠšú-ri-i ku-ru-[ni]
39 [( d)]hal-di-ni-ni uš-ma-a-ši-i-ni
40 ⸢uš⸣-ta-a-li URUme-[e]-eš15-[ta-a]-e-[di]
41 [m]⸢iš⸣-pu-ú-i-[ni-ni mdsar5-du-ri-e-hé]
42 [mmì]-i-nu-ú-a-[ni miš-pu-ú]-i-ni-e-[hé]
43 [ma-a]-nu miš-pu-ú-i-ni [ku-ru-ni mmì-nu-ú-a] ku-ru-[ni]
44 [LÚ]⸢hu⸣-ra-di-na-a 1 ME [6 GIŠGIGIR 9 LIM 1? ME 74 PIT-HAL-LUMEŠ]
reverse
1 [ d]hal-di-i-e e-ú-ri-i-e
2 [m]iš-pu-ú-i-ni-še mdsar5-du-ri-hi-ni-⸢še⸣
3 [mmì]-i-nu-ú-a-še miš-pu-ú-[i]-ni-hi-ni-⸢še⸣
4 [i]-⸢ni⸣ pu-lu-si-e ku-ú-i-tu-ú
5 [ dhal]-⸢di⸣-ni uš-ta-bi ma-si-ni-e GIŠšú-ri-e
6 [ka]-⸢ru⸣-ni URUme-⸢eš15⸣-ta-⸢ni⸣
7 [ka]-⸢ru⸣-ni KURpár-šú-a-i KURe-ba-a-ni-[i]
8 [ dhal]-di-ni ku-ru-ni dhal-di-[ni]
9 [GIŠ]šú-ri-i ku-ru-ni
10 [ dhal]-di-ni-ni uš-ma-a-ši-i-ni
11 [uš]-ta-a-li URUme-e-eš15-ta-a-e-⸢di⸣
12 [m]⸢iš⸣-pu-ú-i-ni-ni mdsar5-du-ri-e-hé
13 [mmì]-i-nu-ú-a-ni miš-pu-ú-i-ni-e-[hé]
14 [ma-a]-nu miš-pu-ú-i-ni ku-ru-ni
15 [(m)]mì-nu-ú-a ku-ru-⸢ni⸣
16 [LÚ]hu-ra-di-na-[a] 1 ME 6 GIŠ⸢GIGIR⸣
17 [9 LIM x+x? 1 ME 74] PIT-HAL-[LUMEŠ]
18 [x]+2 LIM 7 ME 4 ⸢LÚ⸣ÉRINMEŠ GÌRMIN.[MEŠ]
19 [ú]-lu-[uš]-ta-bi dhal-di-⸢ni⸣
20 [m]⸢iš⸣-pu-ú-i-ni-e md[sar5-du-ri]-hi-ni-[e]
21 [m]mì-i-⸢nu⸣-ú-a miš-pu-ú-i-ni-e-[hi-ni-e]
22 [ha-a-i]-⸢tú⸣ URUme-eš15-ta-a-ni URUqu-ú-a-[ni]
23 [URU]šá-a-ri-tú-ni URUni-i-gi-bi-i-[ni]
24 [KURpár-(šú)]-a-i KURe-ba-a-[ni-i]
25 [nu]-na-a-bi [iš]-ti-ni-[ni]
26 [x] ⸢LIM⸣ 4 ME 83 [KU.X x x LIM 1 ME 60 LÚMEŠ še-hi-ri]
27 [x] ⸢LIM⸣ 6 ⸢LIM⸣ 6 ME [MUNUS]MEŠ [LÚTURMEŠ]
28 [1 LIM] 1 ME 20 ANŠE.KUR.RAMEŠ 10 LIM 2 LIM GU4pa-hi-⸢ni⸣
29 [3] ⸢ME⸣ 65 ANŠE.A.AB.BAMEŠ
30 [x x] a-ti-bi 5 ⸢LIM⸣ UDU⸢MEŠ⸣
31 [ d]⸢hal⸣-di-ni-ni uš-ma-ši-ni i-na-ni pa-ar-tú-[ú]
32 [miš]-pu-ú-i-ni-še mdsar5-du-ri-e-hi-ni-še
33 [m]mì-nu-a-še miš-pu-ú-i-ni-hi-ni-[še]
34 [mì]-i a-li KUR.KUR[MEŠ]-a-še i-ri-bi-tú-⸢ú⸣
35 [i]-ú É.GALMEŠ áš-ú-la-a-⸢bi!?⸣
36 ⸢ka⸣-am-ni LÚú-e-di-a-ni
37 [ʾa]-a-ši-ni-e-i URUṭu-uš-pa-i [URU]
38 [ma]-a-nu-ú i-ni-ni gu-ur-da-ri-⸢e⸣
Translation:
“(1) For the god Haldi, the Lord, Išpuini, son of Sarduri, and Minua, son of Išpuini erected this stele. (5) Haldi set off with his weapon, (6) he defeated the city Mešta, he defeated the territory of the land Paršua. (7b) Behind(?) the god Haldi, behind(?) the weapon of the god Haldi through the protection of the god Haldi Išpuini, son of Sarduri, and Minua, son of Išpuini, set off towards the city Mešta. (13) Behind(?) Išpuini, behind(?) Minua there were 106 chariots, 9174 (or 9274) horsemen, [x tens of thousand +]2704 foot soldiers among the troops. (15b) The god Haldi marched before Išpuini, son of Sarduri, and Minua, son of Išpuini. (18) They conquered the city Mešta, the city Qua, the city Šaritu, the city Nigibi, and the territory of the land Paršua (or: of/in the territory of Paršua). (20) From there came [x thou]sand 483 mules(?), [x thou]sand 160 alive men, [x tens of thou]sand + 6600 women and children, 1120 horses, [x] tens of thousand + 2000 oxen, 365 camels, [x] tens of thousand + 5000 sheep. (24b) Through the protection of the god Haldi Išpuini, son of Sarduri, and Minua, son of Išpuini, carried away these things apart from what the troops plundered when I withdraw(?) from the fortresses.”
References:
Salvini, M. 1984. “La stele di Karagündüz,” in Tra lo Zagros e l’Urmia. Ricerche storiche ed archeologiche nell’Azerbaigian iraniano, eds. P. E. Pecorella et al., Roma, pp. 57–62 and Plt. III.
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 137–140, v. 3 pp. 84–87, v. 5 p. 67–70.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006894).
CTU A 3-9 = CICh 15 = HchI 7 = UKN 24 = KUKN 35
Image Source:
Bora Bilgin, 2024
Karagündüz (A 5-86)
The broken stele fragment originates from the village of Karagündüz, on the eastern shore of Lake Erçek. The inscription contains only a curse formula, indicating that the fragment is from the bottom section of the stele. It measures 118 cm in height, 71.5 cm in width, and 36 cm in depth and is currently in the inventory of the Van Museum. The inscription is mutilated and in poor condition.
Transliteration:
reverse
1 [m]mì-nu-a-še a-li-e
2 ⸢a⸣-lu-še ⸢i⸣-[ni] ⸢DUB-te⸣
3 tú-li-⸢i⸣-[e a]-⸢lu⸣-še
4 ⸢pi⸣-tú-⸢ú⸣-[li-i]-⸢e⸣
5 ⸢a⸣-lu-⸢še⸣ [a-i-ni]-e-⸢i⸣
6 i-ni-⸢li⸣ [du-li-i]-⸢e⸣
7 a-lu-⸢še⸣ [ú-li]-⸢e-še⸣
8 ⸢ti⸣-ú-⸢li⸣-[e i]-e-⸢še⸣
9 ⸢za⸣-du-bi ⸢tú-ri-ni-ni⸣
10 dhal-di-še ⸢dIM-še⸣
11 dUTU-ni-še ⸢DINGIRMEŠ⸣-[še]
12 ⸢ma⸣-a-ni dUTU-ni pi-⸢ni⸣
13 [mì]-i ⸢ar⸣-a-hi-⸢e⸣
14 [ú]-⸢ru-li⸣-[a]-⸢ni⸣
15 [mì-i i-na-i-ni-i]
16 [mì-i na-a]-ra-[a]
17 [a]-⸢ú-i⸣-[e ú]-⸢lu-li⸣
Translation:
“(1) Minua says: (as for the one) who destroys this inscription, (as for the one) [w]ho damages it, (5) (as for the one) who makes anyone else [do] these things, (8) (as for the one) who say[s]: ‘I made (this)’, (9) may the god Haldi, the Weather-God, the Sun-God and (all) the gods, annihilate him under the sun . . . .”
References:
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 261, v. 3 p. 185, v. 5 p. 178.
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006984).
CTU A 5-86 = HchI 139 = UKN II 383 = KUKN 104
Image Source:
M. Salvini, 2008