Editing Yerevan (section)

===Erebuni===
{{main|Erebuni Fortress}}
[[File:Yerevan - Armenië (2901349237).jpg|thumb|Painting showing the founding of Yerevan by [[Argishti I of Urartu|Argishti I]] in 782 BC ([[Erebuni Museum]])]]
[[File:Erebuni Fortress, Yerevan, Armenia 01.jpg|thumb|[[Erebuni Fortress]], founded by King [[Argishti I of Urartu|Argishti I]] in 782 BC]]
The ancient kingdom of [[Urartu]] was formed in the 9th century BC by King [[Arame of Urartu|Arame]] in the basin of [[Lake Van]] of the [[Armenian Highland]], including the territory of modern-day Yerevan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yerevan.am/main.php?page_id=278&lang=3|title=Yerevan Municipality:Old Yerevan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002075814/http://www.yerevan.am/main.php?page_id=278&lang=3|archive-date=2 October 2011}}</ref> Archaeological evidence, such as a [[cuneiform]] inscription,<ref>Brady Kiesling, {{cite web|url=http://yerevan.usembassy.gov/armenia.pdf |title=''Rediscovering Armenia'' |year=2000 |access-date=27 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926164336/http://yerevan.usembassy.gov/armenia.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> indicates that the [[Urartian]] military fortress of Erebuni was founded in 782 BC by the orders of King [[Argishti I of Urartu|Argishti I]] at the site of modern-day Yerevan, to serve as a fort and citadel guarding against attacks from the north [[Caucasus]].<ref name="SAE"/> The cuneiform inscription found at Erebuni Fortress reads:
{{blockquote|By the greatness of the God [[Khaldi (god)|Khaldi]], Argishti, son of [[Menuas of Urartu|Menua]], built this mighty stronghold and proclaimed it Erebuni for the glory of Biainili [Urartu] and to instill fear among the king's enemies. Argishti says, "The land was a desert, before the great works I accomplished upon it. By the greatness of Khaldi, Argishti, son of Menua, is a mighty king, king of Biainili, and ruler of Tushpa."<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Van, Turkey|Van]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>.<ref>Israelyan. ''Erebuni'', p. 9.</ref>}}

During the height of the Urartian power, [[irrigation]] canals and artificial reservoirs were built in Erebuni and its surrounding territories.
[[File:Karmir Blur Town.JPG|thumb|Foundations of [[Teishebaini]] building commenced in mid-7th century BC]]
In the mid-7th century BC, the city of [[Teishebaini]] was built by [[Rusa II]] of Urartu, around {{convert|7|km|abbr=off}} west of Erebuni Fortress.<ref>Ian Lindsay and Adam T. Smith, ''A History of Archaeology in the Republic of Armenia'', Journal of Field Archaeology, Vol. 31, No. 2, Summer, 2006:173.</ref> It was fortified on a hill -currently known as Karmir Blur within [[Shengavit District]] of Yerevan- to protect the eastern borders of Urartu from the barbaric [[Cimmerians]] and [[Scythians]]. During excavations, the remains of a governors palace that contained a hundred and twenty rooms spreading across more than {{convert|40000|m2|acre|abbr=on|0}} was found, along with a [[citadel]] dedicated to the Urartian god [[Theispas|Teisheba]]. The construction of the city of Teishebaini, as well as the palace and the citadel was completed by the end of the 7th century BC, during the reign of [[Rusa III]]. However, Teishebaini was destroyed by an alliance of [[Medes]] and the [[Scythians]] in 585 BC.