| Ancient Urartian palace-fortress
probably built by King Argishti I in the first quarter of the 8th century BC; it was
located on the hill of Arin Berd, near modern Yerevan in Armenia. Excavations at Erebuni
have centred on the palace and temple; both buildings contained important wall paintings
(done primarily in dark blue and red on a white background) that show distinct
similarities to Assyrian wall paintings. Of particular interest was a room containing 30
columns, regarded by some scholars to be the forerunner of the Achaemenian columned hall.
Teishebaini, ancient Urartian fortified town, located on the hill of Karmirblur, near the
city of Yerevan in what is now Armenia. Russian excavations at Teishebaini concentrated on
the citadel, which occupied the top of the hill and contained about 150 rooms. Among the
most important objects uncovered were the remains of wooden stools with their bronze
fittings; a statuette of the god Teisheba, after whom the town was named; numerous
examples of gold and silver jewelry; and a particularly rich find of bronze armour and
other war gear, including pointed helmets, shields, quivers, and belts. Also found in
large quantity were stone seals and beads, carved ivory objects, and pottery bowls and
vessels. The citadel was probably destroyed at the beginning of the 6th century BC. |