Lake Van, the largest lake in Eastern Anatolia, was the centerpiece for Urartian culture. Ringed with beautiful trees and mountains, it was the capital of a once powerful civilization. With fortresses, mosques, and ruins, the lake was not like any found on earth. In the year 860 B.C., the Urartian kingdom was formed under its first king, Aramu. The Urartians referred to their country as the Land of Biaini.
In the 13th century B.C., Assyrian documents gave the first definite reference about the peoples of the Armenian highlands. In inscriptions of the Assyrian King Shalmaneser (1280-1261 B.C.) the term Ururtri (Urartu) first occurred. The name Urartu was given to the alliance of the tribes of the Armenian highlands. At the center of this new alliance was the sacred Lake Van.
By the middle of the 9th century, Assyria intensified warlike activity which had re-established its military strength. Assyrian control of the conquered territories was achieved by fire, sword and waged with ruthlessness. Resistance increased in the countries against which Assyrian campaigns were directed; smaller tribes came together in larger alliances. Gradually, new states developed out of these groupings. In this way the state of Urartu came into being in the early 9th century B.C.; and by this time Urartu had already begun to take on an ethnic connotation. Thus, a new enemy was born for Assyria. As Urartu became stronger, Shalmaneser III was well aware of the danger that loomed.
Urartian culture is believed to arise from the Hurrians. These mountaineers built great fortresses on overlooks throughout the highlands of Urartu. Their kingdom supported huge building programs. Palace remains show economic might. Much of their art has been recovered, particularly works in bronze. Urartu art contains depictions referring to the Cult of the Tree. There are images of sacred trees guarded by Seraphim and Genie and sometimes attended by a king or kings.
For generations, personal seals imprinted the sacred tree on correspondence carried throughout the empire. Rulers and administrators sipped wine from bronze cups stamped with the emblem of the tree. Urartian warriors carried the symbol of the sacred tree to battle on bronze belts and pointed helmets. Colorful wall paintings, carved columns in palaces and other buildings repeated the recurring theme. Examples of this can be found on a bronze helmet of King Sarduri II (760-743 B.C.) at the Hermitage Museum in Leningrad.
The beginnings of archaeology in Van began with the first treasure hunters. The materials found gave stimulus for the first scientific archaeological work at Van. In 1877, Henry Layard sent his assistant Hormuzd Rassam to Van. At the almost three thousand year old site, he unearthed the magnificent bronze palace doors, decorated with scenes from Shalmanesers’s campaigns, in particular his campaigns against Urartu. The door had representations of Urartian fortresses, warlike operations and sacrifices on the shore of Lake Van.
Toprakkale was part of public improvements plan, which Rusa the II had devised. Toprakkale was the new location of the Urartu capital. In 1879-1880, an expedition from the British Museum was began. It was under the direction of Captain Clayton, the British Vice Consul in Van. Also participating in the expedition were Hormuzd Rassam and Dr. Raynolds, an American missionary. The site of Toprakkale did not live up to expectations, although they found remains of a temple built of dressed blocks, fragments of ornamental bronze shields with cuneiform inscriptions and figures of bulls and lions.
The Ruins of Ahlat, located on the western shore of Lake Van was a vastly important city of Turkish art and culture. Several mausoleums, notably the Ulu Kumbet have a comprehensive overview of funerary architecture and decoration. Also located nearby, the Seljuk Cemetery is home to beautifully inscribed monumental tombstones from the 12th century.
In 590 B.C., Urartu was sacked and burned. Only hulks remained. The Urartians were overthrown by the Medes. The civilization of Urartu was completely forgotten. The name was lost and only certain Assyrian inscriptions constituted a puzzle to later historians.
Resources
“Urartu Lost Kingdom of Van”, by Troy R. Bishop
The Ancient Civilization of Urartu”, by Boris B. Piotrovsky. Pages 18-21,38-39,50, 81,