Verified38.7000° N · 43.4700° E · 1900 m
Ayani Fortress — Lake Van Urartu
Urartian (685–653 BCE Rusa II)·Urartian (Rusa II of Ayani)·🇹🇷 Van Province, Turkey
About
About Ayani Fortress — Lake Van Urartu
Ayani Fortress — Lake Van Urartu in Van Province, Turkey is a Urartian (685–653 BCE Rusa II) fortress attributed to Urartian (Rusa II of Ayani). Hillside Urartian fortress with temple of Haldi and cuneiform stele at Ayani. Cilingiroglu Ayani Urartian fortress with Haldi temple and bronze shields.
Why it mattersKey Urartian (Rusa II of Ayani) hill site illustrating Anatolian settlement
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Hellenistic urbanism
- 02Lycian federation cult
Theories
- 01Mountain defensive settlement
- 02Sanctuary federation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 685 BCE
- Period
- Urartian (685–653 BCE Rusa II)
- Culture
- Urartian (Rusa II of Ayani)
- Purpose
- Hillside Urartian fortress with temple of Haldi and cuneiform stele at Ayani
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 685 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Systematic survey
On the ground
Structures & features
38.7000° N · 43.4700° E · 1900 m · 4 mapped features
- Ayani Fortress — Lake Van Urartu — Hilltop CitadelcitadelHilltop fortified citadel38.7001° N · 43.4701° E
- Ayani Fortress — Lake Van Urartu — Lower Fort WallswallsLower fortification circuit38.6998° N · 43.4701° E
- Ayani Fortress — Lake Van Urartu — Cistern TowercisternWater cistern and tower38.7004° N · 43.4698° E
- Ayani Fortress — Lake Van Urartu — Secondary EnclosureenclosureWalled secondary area38.6996° N · 43.4699° E