Tushpa, the capital of Urartu

Around 844 BC Sarduri I (son of Lutipri) became ruler of Urartu. He built the new capital, Tushpa, on the eastern shore of Lake Van and created a whole network of defensive fortresses on the approaches to the capital. The choice of the site was apparently linked to an ancient cult centre of the Urartian sun god Shivini that existed here.

At the western foot of the Rock of Van a wall built of large stones brought from elsewhere has survived (the stones reach 6 metres in length and 1 metre in height). Inscriptions on it in the Assyrian language record that the fortress was built by King Sarduri, son of Lutipri. Under Sarduri I, Assyrian raids could no longer reach the capital.

The photograph shows the ruined walls of the fortress on top of the rock.