Movana (A 10-3)
The tall stele with a Urartian-Assyrian bilingual inscription was discovered in 1995 in a field about 1–2 km west of the village of Movana (Mavana), located about 30 km west of Urmia, Iran. It was subsequently transferred to the Urmia Museum. Like the Kelishin stele, its surface is covered with bullet holes, likely from when it was still erected, probably on the mountain above Movana. Reportedly, it was once used to cover a tomb. A 10 cm-wide hole at the top section was apparently made to attach a rope for dragging it. It measures 2.73 m in height, 69.5 cm in width, and 32.5 cm in depth. The stele is inscribed on all four faces: the obverse and right side in Urartian, and the reverse and left side in Assyrian. The text is a near duplicate of two other steles of Rusa I from further south—Mergeh Karvan (A 10-4) and Topzawa (A 10-5)—and together they indicate the route taken by Rusa I on his way to Ardini (Assyrian Muṣaṣir).
Transliteration (CTU V):
obverse
1 [dhal]-⸢di-e e-ú-ri⸣
2 [i]-⸢ni NA4⸣pu-lu-ú-si
3 [m]⸢ru⸣-sa-še mdsar5-du-ri-hi-ni-[še]
4 [ku]-⸢gu⸣-ú-ni ul-gu-ši-ia-ni e-di-[ni]
5 [iš]-⸢te⸣-di mru-sa-ni mdsar5-du-ri-[hi]
6 [dhal]-di-e-i LÚ⸢ARAD?-ri HÚL? KI?⸣ x
7 [ar?]-⸢di?⸣-še ⸢še?⸣-ri? x du ⸢ku?⸣ [x?]
8 [x]-x-du-ú-ni hi ⸢ši?⸣ [x] ti-a-lì
9 [x x] di ku ia x [x] ⸢ú⸣ ri i x
10 [x] x šá ⸢DINGIR⸣[MEŠ?] ⸢bi⸣-di-[ni] ka-⸢a?⸣-[x]
11 [x] x di ⸢hi⸣ x [x?] ni ti x [x x] x [x]
12 [x x] ú-⸢la?⸣-[di?] iš-te-[di? x x x x?]
13 [x-x]-⸢di-e?⸣ [x x?] x [x x]-si-ni [x?]
14 [x]-x-ri šú-x [x x GU4]MEŠ UDUMEŠ [x?]
15 [x]-a-ni a-li [x x] ⸢a?⸣ i na x [x x]
16 [KUR?].⸢aš?-šur?⸣ ga la/te [x] ⸢KUR⸣bi-a-⸢i⸣-[x-x]
17 [x] x a-li ku-[x] x x x [x x]
18 [x] x-ú-di KURbi-a-i-[x]-x [x x?]
19 [x x?] x-tú-⸢di⸣ KUR⸢lu-lu⸣-i-⸢na?-ni?⸣
20 [x x] x ú x [x] x [x] x x [x x]
21 ( only traces )
22 ( only traces )
23 ( only traces )
24 ( only traces )
25 [x x x x] ⸢a/e⸣ ki [x x x x x x]
26 ( only traces )
27 ( only traces )
28 ( only traces )
29 ( only traces )
30 ( only traces )
31 ( only traces )
32 ( only traces )
33 ( only traces )
34 [x x x x x x x x] x bi a [x x]
35 [x x x x] x [x x x] ⸢bi⸣ bu uš x [x?]
36 [x x x] x [x x x]-a?-ni a-li-e [x?]
37 [x x x x x] x LÚ⸢AD?⸣-si-ni-⸢e?⸣
38 [x x] a? [x x x x x] i-ú ka-am-[ni]
39 [x] a [x] x [x] x e-ú/ki4 x [x]
40 [x x] x x x x x GU4⸢pa-hi-ni⸣[MEŠ]
41 [x x x x] x ⸢e?⸣ x x x
42 [x x GUŠKIN?] ⸢KÙ?⸣.BABBAR ⸢URUDU?⸣ [GU4MEŠ? x x]
43 [x] x x [x] ⸢za?⸣ x [x x] x [x x]
44 [x x] a [x] x [x x x x x x]
45 [x x] i? na [x x x x x x x]
46 [x x] x x e [x x x x x x]
47 [x x x x x x] da x [x x]
48 [x x x x x x] x ⸢ni?⸣ [x x]
49 [x x x x x x x] za i ⸢a⸣ [x x]
50 [x x x x x x x] m⸢ru-sa⸣-[x x]
51 [x x] x [x x x x x] dhal-⸢di⸣-[e?]
52 [x] x tú? [x x x x] x ia? ni-e-[x]
53 [x x] e di [x x x] ⸢ʾa⸣-al-du-⸢bi⸣
54 [al?]-⸢zi?⸣-na-i ⸢LUGAL⸣-[li? KUR]⸢bi⸣-a-i-⸢na⸣ ma-nu-⸢ú?⸣
55 [ú]-⸢te⸣-e a-i-še-⸢e⸣-i i-⸢si⸣-e-⸢ṣi?⸣-[x]
56 [URU]⸢ar⸣-di-ni-di ir-ba-la-ni gu-[ni]
57 [a?]-še ti-a-⸢hi⸣-e i-e-še šú-si-ni ⸢KASKAL⸣
58 [za?-du?]-ú-bi ka-ú-ri šú-ia-še MAN⸢MEŠ⸣-[še]
59 [URU]⸢ar⸣-di-ni-di ú-la-di x [x]
60 x-te/la mur-za-na-še É.BÁRA-ni x [x?]
61 [i-ku]-⸢ka⸣-ni e-dini sal-mat-hi-ni ha-ra-ri ⸢a⸣?-[ṭu?]
right side
1 [ka]-gu-ú-[ki]
2 [ma-]⸢a⸣-ni-⸢a⸣-[bi]
3 [KURaš-šur]-⸢ni⸣-e-[di]
4 [dhal-]di-⸢še⸣
5 [x x x] te [x]
6 [x-]⸢ru⸣-ni a-⸢šá⸣-[di]
7 ⸢ur⸣-pu-a-[ṣi]
8 [za-]⸢du⸣-bi uš-[ta-di]
9 [KURaš-šur]-ni-⸢e⸣-[di]
10 [x x x x x]
11 [x x] x x [x]
12 [x] za x [x x]
13 [x x x] ⸢a?⸣ [x x]
14 [x x] x x [x]
15 [x x x] x ši x
16 [d]⸢hal?⸣-di?-⸢e?⸣
17 [x x]-⸢di?⸣ ši x [x]
18 [x x]-ma x [x]
19 [x x] mru-⸢sa⸣-[x]
20 [x x] ⸢gu⸣ [x x]
(7 erased lines)
28ʹ [x x] šá [x x]
29ʹ [x x] x [x x]
30ʹ [x x x] x [x x]
31ʹ [x x] ṣi [x x]
32ʹ [URU]⸢ar⸣-di-[na-a?]
33ʹ [ma-nu]-⸢di?⸣ x [x x]
34ʹ [x x]MEŠ x x [x x x x]
35ʹ [x x] x i [x x]
36ʹ [x x]-⸢ni?⸣ x x [x]
37ʹ [x x] LÚ [x x]
38ʹ [iš-te]-⸢di⸣ m⸢ru⸣-[sa-ni]
39ʹ [dhal-di]-e-i [LÚARAD]
40ʹ [LÚsi]-e mu-[ṣi]
41ʹ [LÚ]⸢UN⸣MEŠ-⸢ú⸣-e
42ʹ [dhal]-di-[i-ni-ni]
43ʹ [ba]-⸢ú⸣-ši-[ni]
44ʹ [a-še]-⸢e⸣ gu-⸢nu⸣-[še]
45ʹ [ú-i] gu-[nu-ú-še]
46ʹ [a-di-ra]-⸢si⸣-[ia-bi]
47ʹ [a-ru]-⸢me⸣ d⸢hal⸣-[di-še]
48ʹ [e-ia]-⸢ar⸣-[di-še]
49ʹ [pi]-⸢ṣu-ú⸣-[še]
50ʹ [šú-si]-na-a [MUMEŠ]
51ʹ [KURbi]-a-i-[ni-li]
52ʹ [nu]-⸢ul⸣-du-[ú-li]
53ʹ [KURlu]-lu-i-[ni-li]
54ʹ ⸢zi⸣-el-[du-bi]
55ʹ ⸢ar⸣-tú-me ⸢DINGIR⸣MEŠ-[še]
56ʹ [pi]-ṣu-[li?]
57ʹ [U4-ME]⸢MEŠ⸣ U4-ME⸢MEŠ⸣
58ʹ [SILIM pi]-ṣu-ši-[ni]
59ʹ [a-ti]-⸢bi iš⸣-[tú-x]
reverse
1ʹ [x x x x x] x [x x x x x x]
2ʹ [x x x] x šú [x x x x x x]
3ʹ [x x] ina ŠÀ ⸢URU⸣[x x x]
4ʹ [x x] x x x ti-it ⸢te?⸣ x [x]
5ʹ [x x x x x] x x A.BAL? i-sa? [x x]
6ʹ [x x x x x x x] x ⸢KUR?⸣za-[x-x]
7ʹ [x x x x x x] x EN a x x [x]
8ʹ [x x x x x]-ni-ia ana EN ⸢ina ŠÀ⸣ DINGIR? x [x]
9ʹ ( only traces )
10ʹ [x x x x x]-ṣir [x x x x]
11ʹ ( only traces )
12ʹ [x x x x x x x x] a-na x [x]
13ʹ [x x x x x x x x x] ⸢a⸣-na šá [x]
14ʹ [x x x x] ⸢ir⸣-[x x]-si x [x x]
15ʹ [x x x x] ni x x la/te x [x x]
16ʹ ( only traces )
17ʹ ( only traces )
18ʹ [x x x x x x] KÁ?MEŠ x ⸢lu⸣ [x]
19ʹ [x x x x x x] x ⸢URU?⸣bi-la-a x
20ʹ ( only traces )
21ʹ [x x x x x x x x] ia x sa
22ʹ [x x x x x] ⸢KURú?⸣-ra?–ar?-x [x]
23ʹ [x x]-⸢na?⸣-ti-ia x x ta [x x]
24ʹ [x x] KURú-ra-ar-ṭè gab-⸢bi?⸣ [x]
25ʹ [ana? dhal]-di-a EN-ia ⸢ina di⸣ x x x
26ʹ [x x] šú ra? šá a-na ⸢UGU-ia⸣ i-[x-x]
27ʹ [x x] x KÙ? MAN-ti da? x [x x x x]
28ʹ [x] x e [x] ia ⸢ina⸣ URUmu–ṣa–ṣir [x]
29ʹ [x x] KÙ.GI KÙ.BABBAR URUDU GU4MEŠ x [x]
30ʹ [ana] URUmu–ṣa-ṣir ú-bi-lu-⸢ni⸣
31ʹ [x] UDU.⸢HI..A⸣MEŠ ina ŠÀ URUza–za-⸢ru⸣
32ʹ [SUM]-šú-nu-⸢ti ma?⸣-[a?]
33ʹ [x?] ⸢gab⸣-bu mru–sa-⸢a⸣ [LÚ]⸢ARAD [ša]
34ʹ [d]hal–di–a EN-šú ⸢u4⸣-[me] ⸢il⸣-tam-⸢mu⸣-[ú]
35ʹ [x] ana–ku DÙG.GA šá ana UGU-ia i-⸢re?⸣-[ú?]
36ʹ [x x] x ki-li-ú na!-ṣir e-⸢qu⸣-[ti]
37ʹ [x MAN]MEŠ LÚADMEŠ–ia mah–ru–ti ⸢šá⸣ [x]
38ʹ [x] x an–ni–e ana URUmu–ṣa-ṣir la ⸢ú⸣-[…]
39ʹ [a]-na–ku ina ŠÀ 1 KASKAL-a-a ú-bi-⸢lu⸣-[ni]
40ʹ [x gab–bi] ⸢MAN⸣MEŠ ana URUmu–ṣa-ṣir at-⸢ta⸣-[rad]
41ʹ [x x] ⸢MAN⸣ GIŠIG šá É DINGIRMEŠ ina IGI-⸢ia⸣ [e-dil]
42ʹ [ù? ana KURaš]-⸢šur⸣ ZÁH dhal-di-a EN IGMEŠ-[šú BAD]
43ʹ [x ina] ⸢ŠÀ⸣ DÙ-šú EGIR mur-za-na-a ⸢su⸣-[qu?-x]
44ʹ [x e-mu]-qé mur-za-na-a ana MÈ UGU-⸢ia⸣ [na–a-x]
45ʹ [ina qí]-bi-it dhal-di-a ana-ku m⸢ru⸣-[sa-a]
46ʹ [ana šá]-de-e KURan-da-ru-tú a-⸢ta⸣-[la-ak]
47ʹ ⸢GAZ⸣.GAZ ⸢mur⸣-za-na-a ina qa-ti [DIB]
48ʹ [al?–ti?-ʾi-šú] ⸢ina⸣ maš–ka-ni-šú-⸢ma⸣ ana MAN-⸢ti⸣ [GAR-an]
49ʹ [14/15? U4-MEMEŠ ina] lìb-bi URUmu-ṣa-ṣir ⸢a⸣-[tú-šìb]
50ʹ [UDU.SISKURMEŠ x x?] gab-bu ana URUmu-ṣa-ṣir a-⸢ti⸣-[qí]
51ʹ [ana? LÚUNMEŠ] ina ŠÀ URUmu-ṣa-ṣir a-⸢di⸣-[x x x]
52ʹ [x a-na U4-ME]⸢MEŠ⸣ ana nap-tan e-ru-bu ana-ku m[ru-sa-a]
53ʹ [LÚARAD šá d]hal-di-a LÚSIPA ke-e-nu šá ⸢UN⸣MEŠ
54ʹ [šá ana? dhal]-di-a É qa-ra-bu-ni la a-⸢di⸣-[ru]
55ʹ [tú-qu]-⸢un⸣-tú dhal-di-a li-tú da-[na-nu]
56ʹ [x x] SUM-na ina lìb-bi MUMEŠ–ia KURTILLA ir-⸢ti⸣-[piš]
57ʹ [KURKÚR ú]-si-iq DINGIRMEŠ ⸢SUM-nu⸣-ni ⸢U₄MEŠ⸣ [šá HÚL]
58ʹ [x x UGU? U₄MEŠ šá ha-du-ti]
left side
1ʹ [x x x] x
2ʹ [x x x x x]
3ʹ [x] x [x x]
4ʹ [x] x [x x]
5ʹ [x x x x x]
6ʹ [x] x [x x]
7ʹ [x] ni [x x]
8ʹ [x] x x [x]
9ʹ [x x x x x]
10ʹ [x] x x ʾa [x]
11ʹ [x] x qa [x x]
12ʹ [x] pa? ši [x]
13ʹ [x] x ⸢tim?⸣ [x]
14ʹ [x x] me x [x]
15ʹ [x]MEŠ-⸢ti?⸣
16ʹ [x] x ⸢ur?⸣-[x]
17ʹ [x x] la šá [x]
18ʹ [x x] aš/ina? x [x]
19ʹ [x x] x x [x]
20ʹ [x x x] x
21ʹ [x x x] aš/ina [x x]
22ʹ [x x] x hu-⸢ú?⸣ [x]
23ʹ [x x x] ku [x]
24ʹ [dhal]-⸢di⸣ [x x]
25ʹ [d]⸢IM d⸣[UTU]
26ʹ [ù?] DINGIRM[EŠ] x [x]
27ʹ [x x] GAL [x]
28ʹ [x NUMUN]-šú NUMUN.[NUMUN-šú]
29ʹ [lu]-⸢hal⸣-li-[qu]
30ʹ [x]⸢SU⸣ ana TI [x]
31ʹ [x] x hur–ba [x?]
32ʹ [ú-šá]-te-⸢ru⸣
Translation:
“(obv. 1) For the god Haldi, the (or: his) Lord, Rusa, son of Sarduri, [er]ected [thi]s stele for his life. (5) I am Rusa, [son] of Sarduri, serv[ant] of [the god Hal]di (6b) [The god Hal]di(?) . . . (untranslatable)
…
(53) . . . I imposed alzinai, [the kings?] were in the [B]ia lands. . . anybody . . . towards Ardini (= Muṣaṣir) to loot(?). (57) . . . (when) I [ma]de a cam[paign], all the kings advanced, (59) I went to Ardini . . . Urzana [closed?] the sanctuary. (61) From the same place (part of the text linked to the following part of the text on the next side).
(r. side 1) . . . . [. . .] . . . [. . .] . . . [. . .] (16) For the god Haldi [. . .] Rusa [. . .] (28ʹ) [. . .] . . . [. . .] . . . [in? the city] Ardini (= Muṣaṣir) [wa]s? . . . [. . .] (38ʹ) [I] am Ru[sa, servant] of [the god Haldi], faith[ful shep]herd of the [peo]ple; (42ʹ) [Through the comm]and [of the god Ha]ldi, [wh]en (there was) batt[le], I did [not fea]r batt[le]. (47ʹ) The god H[aldi gave to m]e the [strength of] a lion(?) and [jo]y, during a few years I [ma]de the territory of the Bia lands great and [dIMini]shed the [ene]my lands. (54ʹ) The go[ds] gave me [days] of joy, they esta[blished?] numerous (lit. ten thousand?) good days of joy.
(rev. 1ʹ) [. . .] . [. . . ] [. . .] . . . [. . . ] . . . in the city […] (4ʹ) [. . .] . . . [. . .] . . . [. . .] the land Za[zaru?] (7ʹ) [. . . ] the Lord . . . [. . .] . . . [. . . . . ] . . . to the Lord [. . .] (9ʹ) [ . . . Muṣa]ṣir? [. . .] (12ʹ) [. . . ] a [. . . ] (13ʹ) […] … […] … […] (24ʹ) [in t]he entire land Urarṭu (25ʹ) [to the?] god Haldi, my Lord in [. . .] (26ʹ) [. . .] . . . as for me (?) (27ʹ) pure [. . . ] kingship . . . [ . . . . ] (28ʹ) [. . .] . . . in the city Muṣaṣir. (29ʹ) I carried [. . ] gold, silver, bronze, oxen . [.] to the city Muṣaṣir. (31ʹ) [x] sheep in the city Zazaru (32ʹ) [I offered] them and (33ʹ) [. . .] all Rusa, [. . . ](34ʹ) the god Haldi, his Lord . . . listened(?) (35ʹ) [. . .] I am good at ten[ding?]/wat[ching] over. (36ʹ) [. . . ] . . . the guard of the ēqūtu-offering. (37ʹ) [. . .] the kings, my forefathers and predecessors wh[o . . ] (38ʹ) had not c[arried] these [gifts( ?)] to the city Muṣaṣir(39ʹ) [ . ] during (only) one campaign I carried [more than] all the kings. (40ʹb) I went down to the city Muṣaṣir(41ʹ) [but the kin]g [closed] the gate of the house of the gods on my face(42ʹ) [and] he fled towards the land of Aššur. The god Haldi, the Lord, reo[pened his gates of the city wall](43ʹ) [inside of which] I performed (rituals). Against Urzana I [. . .],(44ʹ) Urzana line[d up his military forces] in battle against me.(45ʹ) By the command of the god Haldi I, Ru[sa],(46ʹ) we[nt] to Mount Andarutu, (47ʹ) and defeated (him); I seized Urzana with my hand(48ʹ) [and I subjugated him]. I put him in his (former) position for (the exercise) of kingship.(49ʹ) I [stay]ed [15? (or 14?)] days in the city Muṣaṣir (50ʹ) and I sacrificed all sacrifices . . . for the city Muṣaṣir. (51ʹ) For the people of the city Muṣaṣir . . . [. . . ] (52ʹ) [. . . ] I entered [every day] for the feast. I am Rusa, the servant of the god Haldi, the true shepherd of the people, (54ʹ) (I am) the one who approached the house of the god Haldi, (I am) the one who does not fear battle. (55ʹa) Haldi gave me victory, strength […]. (56ʹb) In my years I enlarged the territory of Urarṭu (57ʹa) and I humiliated [the enemy land]. The gods granted me days of joy, [and good] days of joy.
(l. side 1ʹ) . . . (untranslatable).
References:
André-Salvini, B. & M. Salvini. 2002. “The Bilingual Stele of Rusa I from Movana (West-Azerbaijan, Iran),” SMEA 44, 5–66.
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 497–503, v. 3 pp. 295–310, v. 5 pp. 285–291.
Ceylan, N & M. Çiftçi. 2021. “Kuzeybatı İran’daki Urartu Yazıtlarındaki Savaş ve Propaganda İfadeleri,” MANAS 10.2, 1369–1388 (Foto 9).
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q007087).
Image Sources:
B. André-Salvini & M. Salvini, 2002.
N. Ceylan & M. Çiftçi, 2021