The cuneiform inscription engraved on a rock near Spandaryan village consists of seven lines. According to it King Argishti I (786-764 BC) of the Kingdom of Van (Urartu) conquered the land of Culiani and its central city Durubani. Culiani is supposed to have been a part of the land Eriakhi (Shirak).
The archaeological monuments of various times which are regularly found in the territory of Spandaryan village testify that this region was already inhabited in the III millennium BC. In the II-I millennia BC it had an important strategic location and economic importance. Thus it is not surprising that during the first half of the VIII century the rulers of the Kingdom of Van attacked Shirak plain (land of Eriakhi), and in particular Kuliani, trying to take it under control.
The cuneiform inscription states:
- (God) Haldi (also known as Khaldi) attacked with his weapon,
- Subjected the land Culiani to his rule,
- Spread it before Argishti,
- He was led by (God) Haldi (Khaldi).
- Argishti says:
- I conquered Durubani (city)
- of the land Culiani.
Bibliography
- Grekyan Y. H., On the issue of re-dating the years of reigning of King Argishti I, Historical-philological journal 2016, 3(203). Yerevan, pg. 190.
- Harutyunyan N. V., Biainili-Urartu. Military-political history and issues of toponymy. Saint Petersburg. 2006. Pg. 155
- Harutyunyan N. V., Corpus of Urartian cuneiform inscriptions. Yerevan 2001, pg. 202-203.
