Uncovering a Hidden History
The inscription on a bronze shield, recently acquired by the Rezan Has Museum, has shed light on a previously unknown country that existed during the reign of the Urartian King Argişti. This remarkable discovery has the potential to rewrite the historical narratives of the ancient Near East.
The Argishti Shield and the Qarini Kingdom
The bronze shield, believed to have belonged to the Urartian King Argişti, was found within the borders of eastern Turkey, in the regions of Ağrı-Patnos or Muş. During a panel discussion organized by Kadir Has University, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty Member Associate Professor Orhan Varol revealed the groundbreaking news.
“On the bronze shield belonging to Argişti, one of the Urartian kings and currently in Rezan Has Museum, the existence of a new country called Qarini, written with the KUR ideogram, which is the country sign, was detected,” Varol stated.
Insights into Urartian Expansion and Language
The discovery of the Qarini kingdom on the shield provides valuable information about the expansionist policies of the Urartian Empire during Argishti’s reign. Additionally, the shield sheds light on the linguistic features of the Urartian civilization, which had adapted the Assyrian cuneiform writing system.
Argishti I, the sixth known king of Urartu, reigned from 786 BC to 764 BC. He was known for his military conquests, which included the northern part of Syria, making Urartu the most powerful state in post-Hittite Asia Minor. The shield’s inscription suggests that Argishti’s reign also saw the expansion of Urartian influence into the previously uncharted territory of the Qarini kingdom.
Unveiling the Artistic Sophistication of Urartu
The Urartian civilization was renowned for its distinctive artifacts, including hundreds of bronze belts, shields, quivers, helmets, bells, horse equipment, jewelry, and ceramic and metal vessels. These artifacts often bore royal inscriptions and were decorated with characteristic motifs and scenes, showcasing the artistic sophistication of the Urartian people.
The bronze shield discovered in the Rezan Has Museum is a prime example of this rich cultural heritage, featuring not only the inscription of the Qarini kingdom but also distinctive dotted and curved stripes on its surface.
A detailed study on the shield and the Qarini settlement is currently underway by Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty Members Prof. Dr. Rafet Çavuşoğlu and Associate Dr. Orhan Varol, promising to unveil even more of the Urartian civilization’s hidden history.
