Three bronze shields and a ceremonial bronze helmet, dedicated to Haldi, the chief god of the Urartians, were recently discovered during excavations at the historical Ayanis Castle in Van province, eastern Türkiye. Dated to 2,700 years ago, the shields and helmet were found at a depth of 6 to 7 meters (20-23 feet) beneath the floor of a room, protected by the collapse of the mudbrick walls caused by the ancient earthquake that devastated the castle. The placement allowed for a good state of preservation, albeit suffering minor fractures.
Türkiye’nin dört bir yanında gerçekleştirilen ve sürelerini 12 aya çıkardığımız kazı çalışmalarında her geçen gün yeni bir nadide eser gün ışığına kavuşuyor. ⛏️
Anadolu tarihinin kadim uygarlıklarından #Urartu Krallığı’nın son büyük kenti olan ve günümüzden 2 bin 700 yıl… pic.twitter.com/26ON2wSlPN
— Mehmet Nuri Ersoy (@MehmetNuriErsoy) September 7, 2024
The Last Urartian Bastion: Ayanis Castle, A Storied History
The announcement was made by Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, via his official social media account on X. Since 1989, archaeological excavations have been ongoing at the site, making Ayanis Castle the last major Urartian fortress to be explored.
Initially, the digs were led by Prof. Dr. Altan Çilingiroğlu under Ege University’s “Van Project” until 2012.
In 2013, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Işıklı of Atatürk University took over leadership of the excavations. In recent years, the focus has been on uncovering the structures connected to the Haldi Temple within the citadel, reports Arkeonews.
Bronze shield recovered from Ayanis Castle, near Van. (Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism)
Ayanis Castle, perched on a rocky hill near the village of Ağartı (historically known as “Ayanis”) along the eastern shores of Lake Van, lies 38 kilometers from Tuşpa, the ancient Urartian capital.
This fortress, renowned for housing one of the best-preserved temples dedicated to the god Haldi, was constructed in the mid-7th century BC by Rusa II, the last great king of Urartu. Historical records reveal that the fortress was devastated by a powerful earthquake and subsequent fires just 20 to 25 years after its completion.
The 2024 excavation season proved especially fruitful, with the discovery of three remarkably well-preserved bronze shields and a helmet, all dedicated to Haldi, who was not only the chief god but also the Urartian god of war.
Prof. Işıklı noted that the bronze helmet is believed to be ceremonial in nature, adorned with decorations that will become clearer after further restoration. He emphasized that Ayanis Castle, with its rich trove of bronze artifacts, appears to have been used by a royal and religious elite
Over 30 bronze shields have been discovered in the fortress to date, highlighting the significance of the site and the skilled craftsmanship of the Urartians.
Urartian helmet, part of 2,700-year-old warrior equipment dedicated to Haldi. (Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism)
The Urartian Kingdom: Architectural Wonders
The Urartian Kingdom, also known as Urartu or Biainili in the native language, was an ancient civilization that flourished from the 9th to the 6th century BC. It was centered around the region of Lake Van in modern eastern Türkiye, extending into parts of present-day Armenia and northwestern Iran.
The Urartians were known for their impressive architectural achievements, particularly their stone-built fortresses and temples, which were often located on high, defensible sites.
The kingdom’s capital was Tuşpa (modern-day Van), a strategically important city that became a hub for political and religious activity, reports a study from 2023 published in the Oxford University Press.
Urartu first emerged as a unified state in the 9th century BC, consolidating several smaller tribal groups into a powerful kingdom. The Urartians were skilled warriors, and the kingdom’s militaristic nature is reflected in its frequent conflicts with the Neo-Assyrian Empire, one of the dominant powers of the time.
The Urartians often competed with the Assyrians for control over resources and trade routes, leading to a series of wars and skirmishes. Despite these conflicts, Urartu also borrowed many cultural and technological aspects from Assyria, including writing in cuneiform script.
The Urartians worshipped a pantheon of gods, with Haldi being the chief deity, particularly revered as the god of war and the protector of the state. Numerous temples were built in honor of Haldi, and the discovery of bronze shields and helmets dedicated to him at places like Ayanis Castle reflect the kingdom’s religious and military devotion.
The Urartian economy was primarily agrarian, with the cultivation of crops like barley and wheat, but they also excelled in metalworking, particularly bronze and iron, producing weapons, tools, and ceremonial objects.
Urartu began to decline in the late 7th century BC due to a combination of factors, including internal strife, external invasions, and natural disasters. The kingdom was eventually conquered by the Medes around 590 BC, leading to its absorption into the expanding Persian Empire.