Adilcevaz (A 12-4)
Four inscribed blocks were found reused at various locations in Adilcevaz, on the northern shore of Lake Van. Two of these, a large one (C) and a small one (D), were seen by W. Belck in 1898 reused in the walls of the medieval fortress at Adilcevaz. These blocks were moved to the yard of the local school and later to storage in Adilcevaz. Two others, one large (A) and one small (B), were seen and removed by P. Hulin in 1956 from a medieval wall. Stone A was eventually moved to the Van Museum, but the smaller stone (B) has been lost. Stone A is 1.69 m long, 58.5 cm high, and 64 cm thick. Measurements for the others were not provided, but the large stone C is likely similar in size to stone A.
The inscription belongs to Rusa II and is a duplicate of this king’s inscriptions from Ayanis (A 12-1). Stone A corresponds to A 12-1 III 11–IV 10, and stones B–D correspond to A 12-1 VI 5–VIII 9, with some variations. Similar to the inscription at Ayanis, the blocks must have decorated a temple at Kef Kalesi, high on the mountain overlooking Adilcevaz and Lake Van. According to the suggested reconstruction, the inscribed blocks decorated the façade, while relief blocks were on the walls of the entry corridor. The inscription names the city the “City of the god Haldi of the country Ziuquni.”
Transliteration:
Stone A
1ʹ ku-ul-mu-li-ni a-li-e TIL-LI ga-zu-li-e te-er-du-li-ni ⸢ši⸣-[si-ni bi-di-a-še ši-i-si-e šú-ú-li-e]
2ʹ a-še e-si ma-nu-li i-šá-hi-ni te-er-du-li-ni a-li-e i-ni ú-[li TIL-LI te-er-du-li-ni Éa-du-nu-si-ni]
3ʹ mru-sa-a-še a-li a-lu-še KÙ ku-me-mu-še TIL-LI SIKIL dhal-di-[i-na-ni KÁ-ni ha-ú-li-e]
4ʹ NA₄ ʾa-hu-li-i-ni a-li-e a-še su-nu-e i-ru-i-du-⸢li⸣ [TUKULMEŠ GIŠMEŠ SIMEŠ ši-e-du-li-ni]
5ʹ a-mu-li-ni KITIM-a qu-ul-di-ni-ni a-li-e KÙ iš-ti-ni ma-nu-⸢li⸣ [te-er-du-li-ni É a-du-nu-si-ni]
6ʹ mru-sa-a-še a-li a-li-e dhal-di-ni-e É áš-du-li-e ⸢ha⸣-[ap-ti-ni-e KIN ma-nu-ni e-me tar-ni]
7ʹ GÍR.BAR áš-ka-ṭi5-ni ši-e-du-li-ni mì-i e-ši-me-ṣi el-mu-še ma-[nu-ni i-ni ú-li KÚR GÀR a-še]
8ʹ a-li-e ú-i uš-ta-ku-ni áš-du-li-ni ši-e-du-li-ni mì-i ⸢e⸣-[ši-me-ṣi el-mu-še ma-nu-ni]
9ʹ dhal-di-ni-i a-ma-ni i-gi-di ip-hi-e dhal-di-ni-[i ba-du-si-ni i-ú ur-zi-e]
10ʹ ʾa-hu-li-ni KITIM-a qul-di-ni-ni mì-i e-ši-me-ṣi el-mu-še [ma-nu-ni mru-sa-a-še a-li]
Stones B+C+D
1ʹ [mar-giš-te]-⸢hi⸣-[ni-še a-li i-ni e-si qar-bi ma-nu qi-ú-ra-ni qu-ul-di-ni]
2ʹ ⸢ma⸣-nu-bi ú-i [gi-e-i iš-ti-ni ši-da-ú-ri-e dhal-di-ni-ni ba-ú-ši-ni]
3ʹ i-e-še-e i-[ni É.BÁRA ši-di-iš-tú-bi e-ʾa É.GAL ba-du-si-e]
4ʹ ši-di-iš-tú-bi [GIŠGEŠTIN GIŠza-ri-e šú-hi te-ru-ú-bi GÁN GIŠÚ.ŠE URU šú-hi iš-ti-ni]
5ʹ šá-tú-ú-bi tar-⸢gi⸣-ni-li ar-⸢ni-ú⸣-ši-ni-[li iš-ti-ni za-du-bi te-ru-ú-bi]
6ʹ ti-i-ni d[hal]-di-e-i URU KURzi-ú-qu-ni-i ⸢mru-sa-a-še⸣
7ʹ mar-giš-te-hi-⸢ni⸣-še a-li pa-ru-bi LÚ MUNUSlu-tú-ni KURlu-lu-i-na-ni [KURx-x]-⸢i?⸣-ni
8ʹ KURtab-la-a-ni [KUR]qa-i-na-ru-ú KURmu-uš-ki-ni KURha-te-e ⸢KURha-li-ṭu⸣
9ʹ [KURṣi-lu-qu-ni-ni?] za-du-ú-bi LÚ-i-[a]-ni i-nu-ki-e É.GAL-a e-ʾa URUMEŠ a-li-li ⸢i-nu-ki-e⸣
10ʹ [É.GAL-a za]-⸢du⸣-ú-bi al-zi-na-i [i]-nu-ki-e ⸢É.GAL-a⸣ a-bi-li-du-ú-bi-e mì-i a-i-⸢še-e-i⸣
11ʹ [e-di-ni] ⸢su⸣-ṭi5-a-ni mì-i-⸢e⸣ i-bi-⸢ri-ia⸣-a-ni mì-i gi-e-i i-na-a-ni ba-ú-ši-⸢na-ni⸣
12ʹ [še-pu-ia-ar]-⸢di-a⸣-[ni] mru-sa-a-[še] mar-giš-te-hi-ni-⸢še⸣ a-li dhal-di-iš-⸢me⸣-e uš-ha-a-⸢nu-ni⸣
13ʹ [hu-ṭu-tú-hi gu-nu-še] ⸢e⸣-ʾa ⸢ip⸣-[šú]-še dhal-di-a iš-ti-ni-e i-na-ni-li ar-ni-ú-ši-[ni-li]
14ʹ [za-du-li dhal-di-ni-ni] ⸢al⸣-su-i-ši-ni mru-sa-a-ni mar-giš-te-hi MAN DAN-NU ⸢MAN⸣
15ʹ [al-su-i-ni MAN KURšú-ú-ra-a-ú-e] ⸢MAN⸣ [KUR]⸢bi⸣-a-[i]-na-a-ú-e [MAN MAN]MEŠ-ú-e a-lu-si
16ʹ [URUṭu-uš-pa-a-e URU dhal-di-ni-ni ba-ú-ši-ni mru-sa-a-še mar-giš-te-hi-ni-še]
17ʹ [a]-li MAN-ni [a-li i-si i-ku-ka-ni e-di-ni ma-nu-li mì-i gi-i i-na-a-ni]
18ʹ ⸢ba⸣-ú-ši-na-a-⸢ni⸣ [KIN i-si-ia-ni mì-i gi-i še-pu-ia-ar-di-a-ni mì-i pu-hi-a-ni gu-ni i-e-še]
19ʹ ⸢ti⸣-ú-bi gu-ni [za-du-ú-bi-e mru-sa-a-še mar-giš-te-hi-ni-še a-li a-lu-še i-ni DUB-te]
20ʹ [d]hal-di-na-ni GIŠ[KÁ tú-li-i-e a-lu-še pi-tú-li-e a-lu-še še-er-du-li-e a-lu-še e-si-ni]
21ʹ ⸢su⸣-ú-i-du-li-[e a-lu-še ti-ú-li-e za-du-ú-bi a-i KURbi-a-i-ni-še a-i]
22ʹ [KURlu]-⸢lu⸣-i-ni-[še a-lu-še šú-ú-si-e ti-ni-ni tú-li-i-e ma-a-si-e ti-i-ni te-li-i-e tú-ri-ni-ni]
23ʹ [dhal]-⸢di⸣-še dIM-[še dUTU-ni-še DINGIRMEŠ-še ma-a-ni ti-i-ni]
24ʹ [ar]-⸢mu⸣-zi-i [ar-mu-zi-gi ar-mu-zi dUTU-ni pi-e-i mì-i ar-hi-e]
25ʹ [ú-ru-li-a-ni mì-i i-na-i-ni-e mì-i LÚna-ra-a a-ú-i-e ú-lu-ú-li-e]
Translation:
“(A 1ʹ) . . . (a coherent translation is not possible).
(10ʹb) [Rusa], son of [Argišti] [says: this place was rock, the land] was [deserted], noth[ing has ever been built here.]
(B+C 2ʹb) [Through the command of the god Haldi] I [built this temple and] I built (this) fortress to perfection.
(4ʹb) [I planted here a vineyard (and) a fruit orchard, a grain field (and)] I founded [a new city, I accomplished] mighty deed[s here]. (5ʹb) [I established] a city – (its) name is (the City) of the [god Hal]di in the land Ziuquni. (6ʹb) Rusa, son of Argišti, says: I deported men (and) women from the enemy countries, from the land […], from the land Tabla (Tabal), from the land Qainaru, from the land Muški, from the land Hatti (i.e. the Neo-Hittite states), from the land Haliṭu, [from the land Ṣiluquni], (9ʹb) I [ma]de this fortress by the men and these settlements that are in this fortress and I made alzinai this [fortress], I added them to this fortress . . . (untranslatable). (12ʹb) Rusa, son of Argišti, says: The god Haldi granted me [bravery(?), pugnacity], and lea[der]ship. For the god Haldi I [accomplished] these deeds. (14ʹb) Through the greatness [of the god Haldi] I am Rusa, son of Argišti, strong king, [great king, king of the lands], ki[ng] of the Bia-lands, [king] of [king]s, lord of Ṭušpa-City. (16ʹb) [Through the command of the god Haldi, Rusa, son of Argišti, sa]ys: A king [who] might be later on in this same place(?), shall neither disregard(?) anything of these orders nor shall he šepuiar the work (or: a message) nor shall he puh. Indeed [I sp]oke, indeed [I did]. (19ʹb) [Rusa, son of Argišti, says: (as for the one) who] erases [this inscription from the gate] of the god Haldi, (as for the one) who damages it, (as for the one) who hides(?) it, (as for the one) who removes it [from this place], [(as for the one) who says: ‘I made it’, may it be an Urartian, may it be a for]eigner, [(as for the one) who destroys my name and puts his own name], (22ʹb) [may the god Hald]I, the Weather-God, [the Sun-God, (and all the gods) destroy his name], [(his) off]spring, [(his) offspringʹs offspring under the sun . . . (rest untranslatable).”
References:
Erdoğan, S. 2017. “Kefkalesi Urartu Yerleşiminin Tarihsel Arka Planı,” Tarih Araştırmaları Dergisi 36 s. 62, 31–58 (Fig. 8).
Hulin, P. 1959. “New Urartian Inscription from Adilcevaz,” Anatolan Studies 9, 189–195.
Salvini, M. 2004. “Reconstruction of the susi temple of Adilcevaz, on Lake Van,” in A View from the Highlands: Trans-Caucasus, Eastern Anatolia and Nordwestern Iran. (Fs Burney), ed. A. Sagona, Herent, pp. 245–275.
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 575–576, v. 3 pp. 352–356, v. 5 pp. 327–329.
Yiğit, R & E. Ödük. 2020. “Kef Kalesi,” Aktüel Arkeoloji, Mart-Nisan, 48–55, (Photo p. 53)
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007103).
CTU A 12-4 = CICh 167 = HchI 128, Inc 1 = UKN II 451, 452, 278, 300 = KUKN 415, 416, 414, 489
Image Sources:
P. Hulin, 1959
M. Salvini, 2004, 2008
S. Erdoğan, 2017
R. Yiğit & E. Ödük, 2020
Kef Kalesi (A 12-10)
Ten cubic basalt blocks decorated with relief figures were found in 1965 during the Kef Kalesi excavation. The site overlooks the city and plain of Adilcevaz, on the northern shore of Lake Van, approximately 4 km away. A single-line inscription, identical on all blocks, runs across the four faces below the top edge. It is the only monumental inscription found at Kef Kalesi and is not completely preserved on any example. The blocks measure 110 cm high and 140 cm wide on all sides. The best-preserved cubic block is on display at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara; the others were collected in the courtyard of the Adilcevaz school and later placed under a shed at the entrance to the town.
Transliteration:
1 dhal-di-ni-ni al-su-i-ši-ni mru-sa-a-še mar-giš-te-hi-ni-še i-ni
2 Éa-ši-hu-si-e za-du-ni qar-bi-e šú-li ma-nu ú-i a-i-še-e-i
3 MAN-še za-da-la-ni šú-ki dhal-di-i-še i-zi-du-ú-ni i-e-še za-du-bi
4 mru-sa-a-[še] a-li a-lu-še i-⸢ni⸣ [DUB]-⸢te⸣ tú-li-e a-mì-ni-ni dUTU-ni-še
Translation:
“Through the greatness of the god Haldi Rusa, son of Argišti, made this banquet hall(?). The rock was void, no king had (ever) made (something here). As soon as the god Haldi commanded it, I made it.”
References:
Bilgiç, E. & B. Öğün. 1965. “Second Season Excavation at Kef Kalesi of Adilcevaz (1965),” Anadolu /Anatolia 9, 11–28 (24 plates).
Salvini, M. 1998. “The Inscription of the Urartian King Rusa II at Kefkalesi (Adilcevaz),” SMEA 40, 123–129.
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 p. 582, v. 3 pp. 363–366, v. 5 pp. 335–336.
Seidle, U. 1993. “Urartaische Bauskulpturen,” in Studies in Honor of Nimet Özgüç, eds. M. J. Mellink, E. Porada, T. Ozgüç, Ankara, 557-564, (Fig. 3).
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007109).
CTU A 12-10 = KUKN 417
Image Sources:
U. Seidle, 1993
Bora Bilgin, 2024