Home » Urartian rulers and their inscriptions » Rusa, son of Argishti II (A 12 and B 12) » Stone and Rock Inscriptions
Stone and Rock Inscriptions
A 12-1 A 12-2 A 12-3 A 12-4 A 12-5 A 12-6 A 12-7 A 12-8 A 12-9 A 12-10
Map showing the distribution of the stone inscriptions of Rusa, son of Argišti II, in: Mirjo Salvini, CTU I: 564.
A 12-1
Description:
- Stone blocks with account of building projects (susi-temple; gate for the god Haldi in "Rusahinili in front of Mount Eiduru") und cultic prescriptions (establishment of state cult rituals). Provenience: Ayanis/Rusahinili Eidurukai, where the inscription was engraved on the façade and the hall of the temple. The inscription is divided into eight parts.
Edition:
- Access the edition [/ecut/Q007100/] of A 12-1.
Sources:
- A 12-1
Dimensions:
- length: 15.93 m; height: 49.2-52.2 cm
Bibliography:
- Salvini, Mirjo (2001): The Inscriptions of Ayanis. Monumental Stone Inscriptions, in: Ayanis I., 2001, 254-271, in: Çilingiroğlu, Altan and Mirjo Salvini (Eds.): Ayanis I. Ten year's Excavations in Rusahinili Eiduru-kai (Documenta Asiana 6), Rome 2001, 254-271.
A 12-2
Description:
- Stone blocks with building inscription (construction of a susi-temple; gate for the god Haldi in the City of the Weather-God/Karmir-Blur) and cult inscription (establishment of state cult rituals). The temple is archaeologically not further identified. The provenience of the inscription is Karmir-Blur, it was located on the façade and the entrance of the temple corridor. Only a part of the inscription is preserved. Today the stone blocks are kept in the warehouse of the Armenian History Museum (Erevan).
Edition:
- Access the edition [/ecut/Q007101/] of A 12-2.
Sources:
- A 12-2
Dimensions:
- Section I (three blocks): height: 43.5 cm; width: 67.5/73/72 cm
- Section II (five blocks): height: 46.5 cm; width: 52/62/70.5/25.5/30 cm
- Section III: height: 43.4 cm; width: 72 cm
- Section VIII: height: 46.5 cm; width: 54 cm
Bibliography:
- Arutjunjan, Nikolaj V. (1966): Novye urartskie nadpisi Karmir-blura (= NUNKb), Erevan 1966, 9-79.
- Piotrovskij, Boris Borisovič (1970): Karmir-blur, Leningrad 1970, fig. 19.
- Salvini, Mirjo (2008): Minima Urartaica, Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies III/2, 2008, 143-145.
- Salvini, Mirjo (1979): Das susi-Heiligtum von Karmir-blur und der urartäische Turmtempel, Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran 12, 1979, 249-269.
Concordance:
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-2 = NUNKb, Tekst I (= Melikišvili (1971a): UKN II 448 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 424) + NUNKb, Tekst II (= Melikišvili (1971a): UKN II 449 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 425) (+) NUNKb, Tekst III (= Melikišvili (1971a): UKN II 450 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 427)
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-2 I = NUNKb, Tekst I, 1-11 = Melikišvili (1971a): UKN II 448 1-11
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-2 II = NUNKb, Tekst I, 12-22 = Melikišvili (1971a): UKN II 448, 12-22
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-2 III = NUNKb, Tekst II = Melikišvili (1971a): UKN II 449 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 425
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-2 V: fragment from Noragavid (Yerevan) // A 12-1 V 9 - VI 3. Ex *A 18-7.
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-2 VIII = NUNKb, Tekst III (3 fragments, one of which is already known as Melikišvili (1960): UKN 284 = König (1955-1957): HchI 128 A) = Melikišvili (1971a): UKN II 450 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 427 (+) NUNKb, Tekst x (= Melikišvili (1960): UKN 318 = König (1955-1957): HchI Inc. 30)
A 12-3
Description:
- Stone block with building inscription (gate for the god Haldi in Argištihinili/Armavir) and cult inscription (establishment of state cult rituals). Provenience: Armavir. Today it es kept in the Armenian History Museum (Erevan).
Edition:
- Access the edition [/ecut/Q007102/] of A 12-3.
Sources:
- A 12-3
Dimensions:
- height: 42.5 cm; width: 69 cm
Bibliography:
- Arutjunjan, Nikolaj V. (1966): Novye urartskie nadpisi Karmir-blura (= NUNKb), Erevan 1966, 65-74, Tekst IV N° x (with photo).
Concordance:
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-3 = Nikol'skij XVII = Lehmann-Haupt (1928-1935): ClCH 121 (Tab. LXII, cast) = Melikišvili (1960): UKN 143 = König (1955-1957): HchI 97 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 270
A 12-4
Description:
- Stone blocks with building inscription (construction of temples) and cult inscription (establishment of state cult ritual). Provenience: Kef Kalesi, reused in Adilcevaz. Block A is kept in the Van Museum, block C and D in the schoolyard of Adilcevaz and block B is lost.
Edition:
- Access the edition [/ecut/Q007103/] of A 12-4.
Sources:
- A 12-4
Dimensions:
- block A: height: 58.5 cm; width: 1.69 m; depth: 64 cm; height of the inscription: 44 cm; width of the inscription: 1.25 m; height of lines: 4.1 cm; void space beneath the inscription: 12 cm
- block B:
- block C:
- block D:
Bibliography:
- Hulin, Peter (1959): New Urartian Inscriptions from Adilcevaz, Anatolian Studies 9, 1959, 189-207.
- Arutjunjan, Nikolaj V. (1966): Novye urartskie nadpisi Karmir-blura (= NUNKb), Erevan 1966, 75 ff.
- Salvini, Mirjo (2004): Reconstruction of the susi temple of Adilcevaz, on Lake Van, in: Sagona, Antonia G. (Ed.): A View from the Highlands: Trans-Caucasus, Eastern Anatolia and Nordwestern Iran. Studies in Honour of C. A. Burney, Herent 2004, 245-275.
Concordance:
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-4 I (= Melikišvili (1971a): UKN II 451 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 415) // A 12-1 III 11 - IV 10
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-4 II = Melikišvili (1971a): UKN II 452 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 416 + Melikišvili (1960): UKN 278 = König (1955-1957): HchI 128 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 414 (+) Lehmann-Haupt (1928-1935): ClCH Projekt 167 = Melikišvili (1960): UKN 300 = König (1955-1957): HchI Inc. 1 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 489 = A 12-4 II (// with variants of A 12-1 VI 5 - VIII 9)
A 12-5
Description:
- Fragmentary preserved stone block with building inscription (construction of temple buildings) and cult inscription (establishment of state cult rituals). Provenience: Bastam. Today it is kept in the Muze-ye Irân-e Bâstân (Teheran). A fragment of the stone is also kept in the Hermitage (Saint Petersburg).
Edition:
- Access the edition [/ecut/Q007104/] of A 12-5.
Sources:
- A 12-5, A 12-5a
Bibliography:
- Salvini, Mirjo (2005): Der Turmtempel (susi) von Bastam, Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan 37, 2005, 371-375.
- Salvini, Mirjo (2006): Le due stele di Rusa Erimenaḫi dal Keşiş Göl, Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 48, 2006, 209-272. (esp. 256-260. A new templar inscription by Rusa Argištiḫi).
A 12-6
Description:
- Rock inscription, engraved on the left of the entrance of a room
that is carved into the cliff face; building inscription (construction of a sanctuary É.BÁRA and construction of a city named "Small City of the god Haldi"). The inscription is engraved on two walls at right angles. The inscription is highly damaged. It is located at Kalaköy.
Edition:
- Access the edition [/ecut/Q007105/] of A 12-6.
Sources:
- A 12-6
Dimensions:
- space between the two walls: 44 cm; height of the inscription: 53 cm; width (left): 72 cm; width (right): 57.5 cm; height of lines: 3-3.8 cm
Bibliography:
- Işık, Fahri (1995): Die offenenen Felsheiligtümer Urartus und ihre Beziehungen zu denen der Hethiter und Phryger (Documenta Asiana 2), Rome 1995, 5, 99 (fig. 3), 118-120 (fig. 4-9).
- Schäfer, Hans-Peter (1977): Die Inschrift Rusa II. Argišteḫinis in Mazgirt-Kaleköy (UKN 279 = HCHI 127), Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 18, 1977, 249-268. (+ Tab. I-IV).
- Salvini, Mirjo (2005): Studi preparatorî per il «Corpus dei testi urartei» (CTU), Ricerche del 2004 e 2005 in Turchia orientale, Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 47, 2005, 257-272: Collation of the rock inscription of Rusa II at Kaleköy, near Mazgirt (Vilayet Tunceli), 260-262 and 268-270 (figs. 3-8).
Concordance:
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-6 = Lehmann-Haupt (1928-1935): ClCH 152 (Projekt) = Melikišvili (1960): UKN 279 = König (1955-1957): HchI 127 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 418
A 12-7
Description:
- Stone slab with account of building projects (erection of a stele, the planting of a vineyard, field of grain and an orchard, the foundation of settlements, the construction of a canal), and cultic prescription (establishment of state cult ritual [related to the canal]). Provenience: Rusai (Bastam). From there, it was transported to Maku to the private house of the Khan.
Edition:
- Access the edition [/ecut/Q007106/] of A 12-7.
Sources:
- A 12-7
Dimensions:
- height: 54 cm; width: 70 cm
Bibliography:
- Meščaninov, Ivan Ivanovič (1927): Chaldovedenie. Istorija drevnego Vana vključaja drevnejšie svedenija o Zakavkaz'e. Sistema pis'ma i čtenie klinopisnych tekstov chaldov-urartov (Trudy Obščestva Obsledovanija i Izučenija Azerbajdžana, N° 10), Baku 1927, 207, 263 (photo).
Concordance:
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-7 = Lehmann-Haupt (1928-1935): ClCH 153A (Project) = Melikišvili (1960): UKN 280 = König (1955-1957): HchI 129 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 419
A 12-8
Description:
- Stele with building inscription (erection of a stele). Provenience: Zvartnots. Today it is kept in the museum, which belongs to medieval Armenian site of Zvartnots.
Edition:
- Access the edition [/ecut/Q007107/] of A 12-8.
Sources:
- A 12-8
Dimensions:
- stele: height: 2.70 m; width: 64 cm; depth: 32 cm
- inscription: height: 2.10 m; width: 64 cm; height of lines: 4-4.5 cm
Bibliography:
- Cuneo, Paolo (1988): Armenian Architecture, Rome 1988, vol. I, 102-105, N° 6 (Zvart'noc'), vol. II, Carta geografica fuori testo, K/4, N° 6.
- Meščaninov, Ivan Ivanovič (1927): Chaldovedenie. Istorija drevnego Vana vključaja drevnejšie svedenija o Zakavkaz'e. Sistema pis'ma i čtenie klinopisnych tekstov chaldov-urartov (Trudy Obščestva Obsledovanija i Izučenija Azerbajdžana, N° 10), Baku 1927: 211 and photo in last panel.
Concordance:
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-8 = Lehmann-Haupt (1928-1935): ClCH 151 (Project) = Melikišvili (1960): UKN 281 = König (1955-1957): HchI 126 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 421
A 12-9
Description:
- Stone block with building inscription (fortress "in front of Mount Eiduru", the construction of a temple, the planting of a vineyard and an orchard and the foundation of a new city named Rusahinili). Provenience: Ayanis, where it was placed in front of the city gate. Today it is kept in the Van Museum.
Edition:
- Access the edition [/ecut/Q007108/] of A 12-9.
Sources:
- A 12-9
Dimensions:
- height: 44 cm; width: 59 cm; depth: 15 cm; height of lines: 2.8 cm
Bibliography:
- Çilingiroğlu, Altan and Mirjo Salvini (Eds.) (1995): Rusaḫinili in Front of Mount Eiduru. The Urartian Fortress of Ayanis (7th century B.C.), Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 35, 1995, 111-124. (+ tab. VII).
- Salvini, Mirjo (2001): The Inscriptions of Ayanis. Monumental Stone Inscriptions Çilingiroğlu, Altan and Mirjo Salvini (eds.): Ayanis I: Ten Years' Excavations at Rusahinili Eiduru-kai 1989–1998. Documenta Asiana 6, Rome 2001, 251-252.
Concordance:
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-9 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 412b
A 12-10
Description:
- Building inscription of one line (restoration / reconstruction of a building [mention of intact pillar]). It runs across a dozen cubic stone blocks. Apart from the inscription, there is a relief (figures) on the blocks. Provenience: Kef Kalesi. The best-preserved stone block is kept and exhibited in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations (Ankara). The others are kept in a shed at Adilcevaz. The inscription is not complete on any stone block.
Edition:
- Access the edition [/ecut/Q007109/] of A 12-10.
Sources:
- A 12-10
Dimensions:
- height: 110 cm; width (base): 140 cm; depth (base): 140 cm
Bibliography:
- Bilgiç, Emin and Baki Öğün (1965): Second Season Excavation at Kef Kalesi of Adilcevaz (1965), Anadolu / Anatolia IX, 1965, 13-19. + 24 tab.
- Salvini, Mirjo (1998): The Inscription of the Urartian King Rusa II at Kefkalesi (Adilcevaz), Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 40, 1998, 123-129
Concordance:
- Salvini (2008 and 2018): CTU A 12-10 = Arutjunjan (2001): KUKN 417
Birgit Christiansen
Birgit Christiansen, 'Stone and Rock Inscriptions', Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (eCUT) Project, The eCUT Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2024 [http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Urartianrulersandtheirinscriptions/Rusa,sonofArgishtiIIA12andB12/StoneandRockInscriptions/]