Teishebaini, also known as Թեյշեբաինի in Armenian, was a significant city-fortress in the ancient Kingdom of Van, which is also known as Urartu. The Kingdom of Van was a powerful and advanced civilization in the Armenian Highlands during the 9th to 6th centuries BC.
The Teishebaini fortress was established by King Rusa II, the son of Argishti II Hrachya II (Հրաչյա in Armenian), who reigned from approximately 685 to 639 BC. King Rusa II was a prominent figure in the later period of the Kingdom of Van, and the construction of Teishebaini was one of his significant achievements. The city was strategically located on a plateau at the confluence of the Hrazdan River and a smaller river, providing natural defenses.
Teishebaini served as an important center for the Kingdom of Van, featuring a complex layout of buildings, including temples, palaces, storerooms, and workshops. The city was also an important trading hub and a defensive stronghold. It is believed that Teishebaini was one of the last significant cities constructed during the Kingdom of Van, symbolizing the final phase of the state’s existence before its decline.
The Kingdom of Van ultimately fell under the pressure of various external forces, such as the invading Assyrians and the rise of the Medes and the Scythians. The fall of Teishebaini marked the end of the Kingdom of Van as a political entity. However, its cultural and architectural legacy has left a lasting impact on the region, with Teishebaini being a prime example of the achievements of this ancient civilization.
After the Assyrians destroyed the primary worship centers of the god Khaldi in Musasir in 714 BC, the Kingdom of Van experienced a series of military setbacks. In an effort to reverse this trend and strengthen the state’s military power, King Rusa II focused on reinforcing the cult of the gods.
To achieve this, Rusa II established a new cult city dedicated to the god Khaldi on the northern shore of Lake Van at the beginning of his reign. Following this, he founded Teishebaini, named after the god of war, Teisheba. This move further emphasized the importance of religion in bolstering the kingdom’s military strength and resilience.
King Rusa II also built new temples in honor of the god Khaldi throughout the kingdom, including one in Teishebaini. These efforts aimed to revitalize the religious foundation of the state and unite the people under a shared belief system, which would provide a stronger sense of purpose and identity.
Cuneiform tablet Rusa II
Preserved cuneiform tablet from Rusa II provides valuable insight into the efforts made by the king to develop the economy and infrastructure of Teishebaini. In the inscription, Rusa II credits the god Khaldi with guiding him to establish the city and develop its agriculture and resources. He describes transforming the previously uncultivated land into a productive region with vineyards, crop fields, and orchards.
Rusa II also mentions constructing a channel named “Umeshini” from the Ildarunya River to ensure a stable water supply for the city. The king further emphasizes the importance of religious offerings to the gods, particularly Khaldi, Teisheba, and Shivini, in exchange for using the resources provided by the canal.
The inscription concludes with a warning to anyone who would dare to deface or destroy the tablet or claim credit for the works mentioned. Rusa II invokes the wrath of the gods, praying that they would erase the name, family, and offspring of anyone attempting to erase his own name and accomplishments.
This cuneiform tablet not only highlights the significance of Teishebaini in the Kingdom of Van but also underscores the central role of religion and divine guidance in the decisions and actions of its rulers.
Downfall of Teishebaini
Around 600 BC, the rulers of the Kingdom of Van began losing control over the central region of the country, and subsequently their influence in the Transcaucasus diminished. During this time, valuable items from Erebuni and other locations across the kingdom were brought to Teishebaini for safekeeping. However, around 585 BC, an enemy invasion led to the destruction of Teishebaini.
There are several theories about which group was responsible for the final blow to the kingdom, with potential culprits including the Scythians, Cimmerians, Medes, or Babylonians. Among these, the Scythian theory is currently the most widely accepted by researchers, supported by the discovery of numerous Scythian-type arrowheads during archaeological excavations at the fortress.
Following a brief siege, Teishebaini’s defenses were breached when the enemy penetrated the auxiliary western gate. The ensuing battle led to a fire that destroyed temporary structures, ceilings, and the fortress’s roof.
Teishebaini ultimately fell, and the hill on which it stood came to be known as Karmir Blur (Կարմիր Բլուր – “Red Hill”), named after the red bricks that were scorched in the fire. The fortress’s water supply system was destroyed during the assault, and as a result, life in Teishebaini never resumed. The once-thriving city fortress became a symbol of the end of the Kingdom of Van and its ancient civilization.
Archaeological excavations
Systematic archaeological excavations at the site of Teishebaini began in 1939 and were conducted by the Karmir Blur Archaeological Expedition for several decades. Despite interruptions due to war, the primary work was completed by 1958 under the supervision of B. B. Piotrovsky.
The excavations uncovered the remains of the grand Teishebaini fortress, which spanned over 4 hectares, as well as remnants of residential areas and traces of Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age settlements dating back to the 13th-8th centuries BC. These pre-Kingdom of Van settlements featured round and rectangular buildings. Within the dwellings, archaeologists found grain pits and large anthropomorphic stone deities, which likely symbolized the fertility of the land.
The settlement discovered at Karmir Blur bears similarities to an Eneolithic settlement near the village of Shengavit, located on the left bank of the Hrazdan River. The Karmir Blur settlement was burned and destroyed during the reign of King Argishti I. After approximately a hundred years of abandonment, King Rusa II constructed the fortress city of Teishebaini on the site.
Aerial photography has revealed the presence of ancient city streets connecting the fortress and residential areas, offering further insight into the layout and organization of Teishebaini and the surrounding settlements.
The ancient name “Teishebaini” was first deciphered from the iron locks found in the fortress’s storerooms, allowing researchers to restore the historical name of the settlement. Unfortunately, at the end of the archaeological work, the excavation site was not fully conserved.
As a result, the upper parts of the fortress walls, constructed from raw brick, have been subjected to active erosion and are progressively deteriorating. Over the past millennia, the brick walls of the fortress have transformed into a compacted clay mass that is highly susceptible to collapse when exposed to the elements.
This situation highlights the importance of proper conservation and preservation efforts for archaeological sites to protect valuable historical information and artifacts for future generations. Without adequate conservation measures, important remnants of ancient civilizations like Teishebaini could be lost forever.
It is believed that many interesting artifacts, which could provide further insight into the Kingdom of Van, remain hidden beneath the earth at the Karmir Blur Hill. While Boris Piotrovsky’s archaeological expedition in the last century conducted large-scale excavations and made significant discoveries, numerous secrets still lie buried.
In August 2013, the Municipality of Yerevan decided to build a high-speed highway along the territory of Karmir Blur Hill to alleviate traffic congestion in the city. Before construction began, specialists were instructed to explore the area and conduct additional excavations.
These recent archaeological investigations revealed that the cemetery in Charbakh (Չարբախ) and its surrounding territories served as burial grounds during the Kingdom of Van and prior. Although ancient burials had been discovered in Karmir Blur before, these findings were not sufficient to provide a comprehensive understanding of the area’s history.
Today, the powerful Kingdom of Van from the 9th century BC, known as Urartu in the cuneiform inscriptions of neighboring peoples, attracts the interest of European, American, Russian, and Iranian scientists. Unfortunately, this attention has also drawn Turkish grave robbers, who have been particularly active in the region. Consequently, exceptional examples of ancient art from this period have periodically appeared in markets, raising concerns about the preservation and protection of these invaluable archaeological sites and artifacts.
Ancient tombs of Teishebaini
Recent archaeological excavations at Karmir Blur have led to surprising discoveries, including the tombs of members of the upper class of the Kingdom of Van. Remarkably, there were no visible signs above ground indicating the presence of these burials. Approximately 500 tombs have been excavated, each containing at least two individuals.
These excavations have unearthed around 1,000 artifacts and skeletons, which could provide answers to many questions facing researchers. The tombs resemble rooms filled with earth and covered with large cobblestones and lime. The discovered skeletons were positioned with bent knees, women lying on their left side and men on their right.
Servants were also buried with upper-class individuals, their skeletons dismembered into several parts. Tuff slab idols with hollowed-out eyes were found near the buried, presumably to protect their masters from evil spirits in the afterlife.
Among the findings, archaeologists have highlighted a very tall female skeleton with a copper bracelet on her leg and a belt made using the chasing technique. Additionally, cellars were discovered that could have stored more than half a million liters of wine, along with barns filled with large stocks of grain and a stable. Another section of the tombs likely belonged to the ancient city’s workers.
At present, only the first stage of excavations has been completed. The discoveries have already attracted the interest of international scientists. M. B. Piotrovsky, the director of the Hermitage, visited Yerevan during the excavations and expressed his admiration and amazement at the findings. These recent discoveries at Karmir Blur continue to shed light on the Kingdom of Van’s history and offer new insights into the lives of its inhabitants.
Vigen Avetisyan
Symbols on the plan of the fortress:
YELLOW – Granaries
GREEN – Brewery and beer pantry
BLUE – Room for the production of sesame oil
PURPLE – Wine pantries
- Central gate
- Western gate (auxiliary)
- Courtyard
- Residence of the ruler, columned hall
- Location of the find of the archive of cuneiform tablets
