Mt. Taragheh (A 3-13?)
The rock inscription was discovered in 1997 by rock climbers near the summit of Mt. Taragheh, 2.6 km south of the village of Elmabad, about 25 km west of the city of Bukan in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. It was carved on a flattened surface about 60 to 80 cm wide. Before 2006, it was the subject of an attempted theft and was almost entirely destroyed. It is known only from a video taken at the time of its discovery, which showed that even before the destruction, the inscription was not in good condition. Its publication was based on the study of still images taken from that video.
Transliteration (Salvini & Dara, 2019):
1. [dhal-di-ni]-ni uš-ma-ši-ni dhal-di-ni-ni ⸢uš-gi-ni⸣
2. [ ? ] miš-pu-ú-i-ni-ni md⸢sar5?-du-ri-e-hé⸣
3. [ ? ] MAN ŠÚ MAN KURbi-a-e mmì-nu-a-⸢ni⸣ [miš-pu]-ú[-i-ni-e-hé]
4. ]ú?(-)ú-hi?-ni x x ni ⸢uš-ta⸣-x[
5. ]-pu-ta-li šu-ri-li a x x[
6. M]EŠ? a-⸢gu-bi⸣? ⸢ba⸣-ad-gu-lu-⸢bi⸣ x x [
7. ]x ma?-ni miš-pu-ú-i-ni-e mmì-nu-a(-)[
8. ]x-ni ši-’a?-li šú-ri x[
9. ]x a i ri du? te x x[
10. ] ⸢d⸣hal-di-ni[(-)
Translation (Salvini & Dara, 2019):
“ (1) Through (thanks to) the protection of [God Haldi], through (thanks to) the help (?) of God Haldi (2) … (we are) Išpuini, son of Sarduri … (3)…] king of the universe, king of Bia land (and) Minua [son of Išpuini], (4) … … (5) … regions/territories … (6) …]I led?, I occupied … (7) … to Išpuini and Minua (8) …] … the weapon (9) … … (10) …]God Haldi[…”
References:
Salvini, M. & M. Dara. 2019. “An Urartian rock inscription on Mt. Taragheh, in Iranian Azerbaijan,” AJNES 13-2, 69–81.
Image Sources:
M. Salvini & M. Dara, 2019