Erebuni

Erebuni is an ancient fortress and archaeological site located on the Arin Berd hill in present-day Yerevan, Armenia. It was constructed in 782 BCE by Urartian king Argishti I as a fortified administrative center and gateway to the Ararat plain. The site is one of the most well-documented Urartian fortresses and provides a major link to the early urban development of the region.

The name Erebuni is preserved in Urartian inscriptions found at the site. These inscriptions describe the founding and expansion of the fortress and its role as a capital or strategic stronghold during Argishti I’s reign. The fortress controlled access to the Ararat plain and served as a key political and military hub within the Urartian kingdom. The archaeological remains reveal a planned urban complex with fortifications, gates, towers, and administrative buildings.

In the 20th century, archaeological excavations uncovered substantial walls, a citadel, residential areas, and a wealth of artifacts, including pottery, metal objects, and inscribed tablets. The findings contribute to the understanding of Urartian architecture and daily life. The site today forms the Erebuni Historical-Archaeological Reserve and includes the Erebuni Museum, which presents finds from the excavations and places them in the wider Urartian cultural context.

The fortress declined following the collapse of Urartu in the late first millennium BCE and was later reoccupied in various periods. Erebuni is widely regarded as a key reference point for Urartian studies and is closely linked to the historical origins of Yerevan, the Armenian capital founded nearby centuries later.