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Coordinates: 38°30′09″N 43°20′24″E / 38.50250°N 43.34000°E / 38.50250; 43.34000
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{{Short description|massive stone fortification in Turkey}}
{{Short description|Massive stone fortification in Turkey}}
{{Infobox Military Structure
{{Infobox military installation
|name = Van Fortress
| name = Van Fortress
|partof =
| partof =
|location = [[Van Province|Van]], [[Turkey]]
| location = [[Van Province|Van]], [[Turkey]]
|image = [[File:Van Fortress From Northwest.JPG|275px]]
| image = [[File:Van Fortress From Northwest.JPG|275px]]
|caption = Van Fortress as seen from the northwest.
| caption = Van Fortress as seen from the northwest
|map_type = Turkey#Near East
| map_type = Turkey#Near East
|coordinates = {{coord|38.50321|43.339133|type:landmark|display=inline}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|38|30|09|N|43|20|24|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|map_size = 275
| map_size = 275
|map_caption = Shown within Turkey
| map_caption = Shown within Turkey
|map_relief = yes
| map_relief = yes
|type = Fortress
| type = Fortress
|code =
| code =
|built = 8th and 7th centuries BC
| built = 8th and 7th centuries BC
|builder =
| builder =
|materials = Unmortared basalt (lower walls) and mud-bricks
| materials = Unmortared basalt (lower walls) and mud-bricks
|height =
| height =
|used =
| used =
|demolished = Partially
| demolished = Partially
|condition = Large sections of walls are still standing.
| condition = Large sections of walls are still standing.
|ownership =
| ownership =
|open_to_public = Yes
| open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby =
| controlledby =
|garrison =
| garrison =
|current_commander =
| current_commander =
|commanders =
| commanders =
|occupants =
| occupants =
|battles =
| battles =
|events =
| events =
}}
}}


The '''Fortress of Van''' ([[Armenian language|Armenian]]: Վանի Բերդ, also known as '''Van Citadel''', {{lang-tr|'''Van Kalesi'''}} or {{lang-ku|'''Kela Wanê'''}}) is a massive stone fortification built by the ancient kingdom of [[Urartu]] during the 9th to 7th centuries BC, and is the largest example of its kind. It overlooks the ruins of [[Tushpa]] the ancient Urartian capital during the 9th century which was centered upon the steep-sided bluff where the fortress now sits. A number of similar fortifications were built throughout the Urartian kingdom, usually cut into hillsides and outcrops in places where modern-day [[Armenia]], [[Turkey]] and [[Iran]] meet. Successive groups such as the Medes, Achaemenids, Armenians, Parthians, Romans, Sassanid Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Seljuks, Safavids, Afsharids, Ottomans and Russians each controlled the fortress at one time or another. The ancient fortress is located just west of [[Van, Turkey|Van]] and east of [[Lake Van]] in the [[Van Province]] of [[Turkey]].
The '''Fortress of Van''' ([[Armenian language|Armenian]]: Վանի Բերդ, also known as '''Van Citadel'''; {{langx|ku|'''Kela Wanê'''}}; {{langx|tr|'''Van Kalesi'''}}) is a massive stone fortification built by the ancient kingdom of [[Urartu]] during the 9th to 7th centuries BC, and is the largest example of its kind. It overlooks the ruins of [[Tushpa]], the ancient Urartian capital during the 9th century, which was centered upon the steep-sided bluff where the fortress now sits. A number of similar fortifications were built throughout the Urartian kingdom, usually cut into hillsides and outcrops in places where modern-day [[Armenia]], [[Turkey]] and [[Iran]] meet. Successive groups such as the Medes, Achaemenids, Armenians, Parthians, Romans, Sassanid Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Seljuks, Safavids, Afsharids, Ottomans and Russians each controlled the fortress at one time or another. The ancient fortress is located just west of [[Van, Turkey|Van]] and east of [[Lake Van]] in the [[Van Province]] of [[Turkey]].


[[Silva Tipple New Lake]] led an American expedition to the ruins in 1938-40.<ref>''Who Was Who in America'', v. 5, 1969–1973 https://books.google.com/books?ei=KItvTuLtHcjh0QGj8uWCCg&ct=result&id=jHXhAAAAMAAJ&q=tipple</ref> Most of the finds and field records from this were lost in the sinking of the [[SS_Athenia_(1922)|S.S. Athenia]] in 1940.
[[Silva Tipple New Lake]] led an American expedition to the ruins in 1938-40.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jHXhAAAAMAAJ&q=tipple |title=Who was who in America |date=1943 |publisher=Marquis-Who's Who |isbn=978-0-8379-0205-0 |language=en}}</ref> Most of the finds and field records from this were lost in the sinking of the [[SS Athenia (1922)|S.S. Athenia]] in 1940.

⚫
The lower parts of the walls of Van Citadel were constructed of unmortared basalt, while the rest was built from mud bricks.


⚫
The lower parts of the walls of Van Citadel were constructed of unmortared basalt, while the rest was built from mud-bricks.
⚫
[[File:Xerxes Cuneiform Van.JPG|thumb|left|275px|[[Xerxes I's inscription at Van|Xerxes I's inscription near the Van Citadel]]]]
Such fortresses were used for regional control, rather than as a defense against foreign armies. The ruins of this fortress sit outside the modern city of [[Van, Turkey|Van]], where they support walls built in the [[medieval]] era.<ref>The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2019}}
Such fortresses were used for regional control, rather than as a defense against foreign armies. The ruins of this fortress sit outside the modern city of [[Van, Turkey|Van]], where they support walls built in the [[medieval]] era.<ref>The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2019}}


==== The "Royal Stable" ====
== The "Royal Stable" ==
At the Van Citadel there is a "royal stable" (''Siršini'') of the dimensions of 20m length, 9m width and 2,5m height, carved in rock. Oxen and sheep were held here to be sacrificed for the Urartian gods, according to the inscriptions discovered at the location.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Socio-Economic Organisation of the Urartian Kingdom|last=Çiftçi|first=Ali|publisher=Brill|year=2017|isbn=9789004347588|location=|pages=113–114}}</ref>
At the Van Citadel, there is a "royal stable" (''Siršini'') of the dimensions of 20 m length, 9 m width and 2,5 m height, carved in rock. Oxen and sheep were held here to be sacrificed for the Urartian gods, according to the inscriptions discovered at the location.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Socio-Economic Organisation of the Urartian Kingdom|last=Çiftçi|first=Ali|publisher=Brill|year=2017|isbn=9789004347588|pages=113–114}}</ref>


==Achaemenid inscription==
==Achaemenid inscription==
{{main|Xerxes I's inscription at Van}}
{{main|Xerxes I's inscription at Van}}
A stereotyped trilingual inscription of [[Xerxes the Great]] from the 5th century BC is inscribed upon a smoothed section of the rock face, some 20 meters (60&nbsp;feet) above the ground near the fortress. The niche was originally carved out by Xerxes' father [[Darius I of Persia|King Darius]], but left the surface blank. The inscription survives in near perfect condition and is divided into three columns of 27 lines written in (from left to right) [[Old Persian]], [[Akkadian language|Babylonian]], and [[Elamite]].
A stereotyped trilingual inscription of [[Xerxes the Great]] from the 5th century BC is inscribed upon a smoothed section of the rock face, some 20 meters (60&nbsp;feet) above the ground near the fortress. The niche was originally carved out by Xerxes' father, [[Darius I of Persia|King Darius]], but left the surface blank. The inscription survives in near perfect condition and is divided into three columns of 27 lines written in (from left to right) [[Old Persian]], [[Elamite]], and [[Akkadian language|Babylonian]].


== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">
Image:Van castle, Turkey.jpg|Citadel with the ruins of the city of Tushpa below.
Van castle, Turkey.jpg|Citadel with the ruins of the city of Tushpa below
Image:Van kalesi.jpg|Van Fortress
Van kalesi.jpg|Van Fortress
Image:TushpaMain02.jpg|The walls of the fortress (Russian Archeological Society, 1916).
TushpaMain02.jpg|The walls of the fortress (Russian Archeological Society, 1916)
Image:Sarduri annals 1915.jpg|Annals of Sarduri (1915).
Sarduri annals 1915.jpg|Annals of Sarduri (1915)
Image:Tushpa Stairs01.jpg|Stairs at the fortress.
Tushpa Stairs01.jpg|Stairs at the fortress
⚫
Xerxes Cuneiform Van.JPG|[[Xerxes I's inscription at Van|Xerxes I's inscription near the Van Citadel]]
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 59: Line 60:


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{commons category|Van Fortress}}
{{Commons category|Van Fortress}}
* [https://www.livius.org/aa-ac/achaemenians/XV.html Cuneiform Inscription at Van]
* [https://www.livius.org/aa-ac/achaemenians/XV.html Cuneiform Inscription at Van]
* [http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/vankalesi Extensive picture site of the Kale area and the old town]
* [http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/vankalesi Extensive picture site of the Kale area and the old town]

{{Van, Turkey}}
{{Van, Turkey}}
{{Urartian cities}}
{{Urartian cities}}
Line 67: Line 69:
{{Castles in Turkey}}
{{Castles in Turkey}}
{{Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey}}
{{Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Archaeological sites in Eastern Anatolia]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Eastern Anatolia]]
[[Category:Archaeology of the Achaemenid Empire]]
[[Category:Archaeology of the Achaemenid Empire]]
[[Category:Castles in Turkey]]
[[Category:Castles in Turkey]]
[[Category:Van, Turkey]]
[[Category:Military history of Van, Turkey]]
[[Category:Urartian cities]]
[[Category:Urartian cities]]
[[Category:Castles in Van Province]]
[[Category:Castles in Van Province]]

Latest revision as of 18:16, 31 October 2024

Van Fortress
Van, Turkey
Van Fortress as seen from the northwest
Van Fortress is located in Turkey
Van Fortress
Van Fortress
Van Fortress is located in Near East
Van Fortress
Van Fortress
Coordinates38°30′09″N 43°20′24″E / 38.50250°N 43.34000°E / 38.50250; 43.34000
TypeFortress
Site information
Open to
the public		Yes
ConditionLarge sections of walls are still standing.
Site history
Built8th and 7th centuries BC
MaterialsUnmortared basalt (lower walls) and mud-bricks
DemolishedPartially

The Fortress of Van (Armenian: Վանի Բերդ, also known as Van Citadel; Kurdish: Kela Wanê; Turkish: Van Kalesi) is a massive stone fortification built by the ancient kingdom of Urartu during the 9th to 7th centuries BC, and is the largest example of its kind. It overlooks the ruins of Tushpa, the ancient Urartian capital during the 9th century, which was centered upon the steep-sided bluff where the fortress now sits. A number of similar fortifications were built throughout the Urartian kingdom, usually cut into hillsides and outcrops in places where modern-day Armenia, Turkey and Iran meet. Successive groups such as the Medes, Achaemenids, Armenians, Parthians, Romans, Sassanid Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Seljuks, Safavids, Afsharids, Ottomans and Russians each controlled the fortress at one time or another. The ancient fortress is located just west of Van and east of Lake Van in the Van Province of Turkey.

Silva Tipple New Lake led an American expedition to the ruins in 1938-40.[1] Most of the finds and field records from this were lost in the sinking of the S.S. Athenia in 1940.

The lower parts of the walls of Van Citadel were constructed of unmortared basalt, while the rest was built from mud bricks.

Such fortresses were used for regional control, rather than as a defense against foreign armies. The ruins of this fortress sit outside the modern city of Van, where they support walls built in the medieval era.[2][full citation needed]

The "Royal Stable"

[edit]

At the Van Citadel, there is a "royal stable" (Siršini) of the dimensions of 20 m length, 9 m width and 2,5 m height, carved in rock. Oxen and sheep were held here to be sacrificed for the Urartian gods, according to the inscriptions discovered at the location.[3]

Achaemenid inscription

[edit]
Main article: Xerxes I's inscription at Van

A stereotyped trilingual inscription of Xerxes the Great from the 5th century BC is inscribed upon a smoothed section of the rock face, some 20 meters (60 feet) above the ground near the fortress. The niche was originally carved out by Xerxes' father, King Darius, but left the surface blank. The inscription survives in near perfect condition and is divided into three columns of 27 lines written in (from left to right) Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian.

[edit]
  • Citadel with the ruins of the city of Tushpa below
    Citadel with the ruins of the city of Tushpa below
  • Van Fortress
    Van Fortress
  • The walls of the fortress (Russian Archeological Society, 1916)
    The walls of the fortress (Russian Archeological Society, 1916)
  • Annals of Sarduri (1915)
    Annals of Sarduri (1915)
  • Stairs at the fortress
    Stairs at the fortress
  • Xerxes I's inscription near the Van Citadel
    Xerxes I's inscription near the Van Citadel

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Who was who in America. Marquis-Who's Who. 1943. ISBN 978-0-8379-0205-0.
  2. ^ The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World
  3. ^ Çiftçi, Ali (2017). The Socio-Economic Organisation of the Urartian Kingdom. Brill. pp. 113–114. ISBN 9789004347588.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Van Fortress.
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