Erebuni Fortress

Erebuni Fortress is an Urartian fortified city, located in Yerevan [1]. It is 1,017 metres above sea level [1]. It was one of several fortresses built along the northern Urartian border and was one of the most important political, economic and cultural centers of the vast kingdom [1]. Erebuni was founded by Urartian king Argishti I (r. c. 785–753 BC) in 782 BC [1]. It was built on top of a hill called Arin Berd overlooking the Aras River Valley to serve as a military stronghold to protect the kingdom's northern borders [1]. In the autumn of 1950, an archaeological expedition led by Konstantine Hovhannisyan discovered an inscription at Arin Berd dedicated to the city's founding which was carved during Argishti's reign [1]. The site of Erebuni Fortress was atop the 65-metre tall hill of Arin Berd as a strategic position overlooking the Ararat plain and the main roads leading to the citadel [1]. Dozens of Urartian and Achaemenian artifacts, such as pottery, earthenware, belt buckles, bracelets, beads, drinking vessels, helmets, arrows and silver coins, were also uncovered [1].