Etiuni

Last updated • 5 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Etiuni (other names Etiuḫi, Etiu, Etio) was the name of an early Iron Age tribal confederation in northern parts of Araxes River, roughly corresponding to the subsequent Ayrarat Province of the Kingdom of Armenia. [1] :50 Etiuni was frequently mentioned in the records of Urartian kings, who led numerous campaigns into Etiuni territory. It is very likely it was the "Etuna" or "Etina" which contributed to the fall of Urartu, according to Assyrian texts. [1] :51 [2] Some scholars believe it had an Armenian-speaking population. [1] :49–53 [3]

Contents

Names and etymology

Stamps issued by Armenia, portraying ancient artifacts left by Lchashen-Metsamor culture (Etiuni), found near Lake Sevan ArmenianStamps-080-082.jpg
Stamps issued by Armenia, portraying ancient artifacts left by Lchashen-Metsamor culture (Etiuni), found near Lake Sevan

Igor Diakonov wrote that Etiuni was a Urartian name meaning "land/people of Etio", [4] whereas Mirjo Salvini preferred to read it as "Etiu". Ethnographer Armen Petrosyan suggested that this name could be a Urartian cuneiform rendering of Hatio (sometimes transliterated as Hattiyo or Hatiyo), which Diakonov had offered as a reconstructed initial form of the modern Armenian endonym, Hay (հայ). [1] [4]

The cuneiform writing system the Urartians used lacked a symbol to designate an "h" sound, so the Urartians used either a symbol usually meant to convey a laryngeal h (ḫ, χ), or opted to not use any symbol to try to convey this sound. Petrosyan, citing Diakonoff and Gevorg Jahukyan, said that Urartian "e" may correspond with Armenian "a" when used at the start of words. [1] :50

Petrosyan, citing 19th-century linguists Friedrich Spiegel and Heinrich Kiepert, proposed that "Hatio" might ultimately derive from Proto-Indo-European *poti, meaning "lord, master, husband." [1] :30–31 According to this theory, the name, with plural suffix, developed from *potiio*hetiyo*hatiyohay. [5]

The Urartians sometimes used the variation, Etiuḫi, which seems to have referred to the people of Etiuni specifically.

Location and regions

Etiuni seems to have largely overlapped geographically with the later Ayrarat province of the Kingdom of Armenia, although Etiuni encompassed more of Lake Sevan's shoreline Ayrarat.jpg
Etiuni seems to have largely overlapped geographically with the later Ayrarat province of the Kingdom of Armenia, although Etiuni encompassed more of Lake Sevan's shoreline

Etiuni was composed of a number of small kingdoms and tribes, included Iga (also known as Igani, Iya, and Aia), on the south shore of Lake Cildir, Abiliani and Apuni, probably corresponding to the Armenian Abełean and Havnunik, in Kars region, and the Luša, Katarza, Uiṭeruḫi (Witeruḫi), and Gulutaḫi, of the Ararat plain. [3] Another region of Etiuni was Liquini, located near Armavir. Petrosyan suggested that Erkuaḫi, another Etiunian region located on the north side of Mount Ararat, could be a native Armenian name for the two peaks of the mountain (compare to Armenian erkuերկու 'two'). [6]

The city of Aza, mentioned by Rusa as an important temple-city along the Araxes River, has been connected to the wealthy religious center, Azara, which was later placed by Strabo near Artashat.

The Etiunian lands of Uelikuni (Welikuni) and Tiluḫu were located on the western shore of Lake Sevan and Kekuni was on the lake's northern shore. The archaeological site of Lchashen, probably corresponding to the city of Ishtikuni, was located in one of these kingdoms. [7] :81

The Urartians mentioned "the four kings of Uduri-Etiuni." This may have referred to a separate, but perhaps culturally and linguistically connected, confederation from Etiuni, comprising the lands Lueḫi, Kemani, Urteḫini, and Arquqini, stretching along the southern shore of Lake Sevan. [8] The word "Uduri" probably means "water" (referring to its location along Lake Sevan). [9]

Etiuni seems to have been bordered by Diaeuḫi to the west, Urartu and possibly the separate lands of Biani to the south and Kulḫi to the north or northwest.

Relation with Urartu

During the co-regency of Ishpuini and his son, Menua, Urartu began expanding northward into Etiunian territories, battling the Katarza and Luša tribes, bragging about conquering Liquini and "the mighty land of" Erkuaḫi, and putting Etiuni under tribute as a result. [10]

Menua's son, Argishti, ventured further into Etiunian territory than his predecessors, building the fortress of Erebuni (located in Yerevan) on newly conquered land, and bringing to it 6600 warriors from Hatti and Shupria. Argišti conquered Apuni, Luša (castrating its king as a result), and Iga, taking many of the inhabitants of these regions as captives. [10]

However, the Etiunians seem to have revolted and invaded Urartu during Argishti's reign, stealing the aštiuzi (perhaps an idol of a god; compare this word to Armenian astuats 'god') of the Urartian religious center, Musasir. [1] :50–51

Sarduri II, Argishti's son, also launched numerous military campaigns in Etiuni in the 740s BCE, battling with local rulers and the king of Etiuni, Diaṣuni. However, whatever became of this confrontation with Diaṣuni is unknown, as the text breaks off. [10]

According to the Assyrians, "the Etinaeans" revolted three times during the reign of Rusa I, Sarduri II's son. These revolts apparently resulted in Urartian military losses and Urartu being "plundered." [1]

A later Assyrian text mention that Urartu had been "destroyed" by the "people of Etuna." [1]

Ethno-linguistic makeup

Igor Diakonov considered it possible that the Etiuni were a Hurro-Urartian people, although he did not explain his reasoning for this classification. [4]

More recently, Armen Petrosyan, linguist Hrach Martirosyan, and other scholars have suggested Armenian etymologies for a number of Etiunian personal, place, tribal, and religious names. [11] [6] [12] [3] Armenian names and words have been identified in Urartu as well, suggesting the possibility that Armenian speaking tribes could have constituted part of the populations of both lands. [12] [1] :53

In addition to Armenian speaking populations, there were also likely Scythian and/or Cimmerian tribes present in Etiuni or its vicinity. [13] The names of the Etiunian land Ishkugul (probably near Gyumri) and its prince, Saga-tur or Sagaputara (perhaps the Skayordi of Moses of Khorene) are suggestive of the presence of Scythians and/or Cimmerians. [14] [15]

Rulers

The Urartians only named one king of Etiuni, Diaṣuni of Iga (or Iya). Petrosyan etymologized Diaṣuni as being an otherwise unattested Armenian name meaning "born of god" (տիւ + ծնուն), comparing it to Greek Diogenes (Διογένης), Thracian Diazenus, Celtic Divogenos, and Sanskrit Devaja (देवजा). [1] :34 [6]

Other kings of regions of Etiuni were likely rulers of smaller kingdoms or local chieftains. These included: Murinu of Uelikuni, Murini of Abiliani, Ṣinalbi of Lueḫi, Rashu of Ruishia, and Kapurini of Iga (Iya). [10]

In historiography

Petrosyan theorized that memories of Etiuni may have been passed down by the medieval Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi.

In the History of Armenia , Khoren says the historically unattested Armenian king, Zarmayr, led an army of "Ethiopians" to aid Troy during the Trojan War. Petrosyan speculated that Khoren or his contemporaries may have confused "Etio" for "Ethiopia" (a name they would have been more familiar with through Biblical studies). [1] :52–53

Archaeology

Ishtikuni was a city in Etiuni, along Lake Sevan. It is located in modern Lchashen, Armenia Drevniaia krepost' riadom s Lchashenom - 03.jpg
Ishtikuni was a city in Etiuni, along Lake Sevan. It is located in modern Lchashen, Armenia

Archaeologists connect Etiuni with the Lchashen-Metsamor culture. [13] [16] [17] [18] Lchashen-Metsamor culture ultimately descends from the Trialeti-Vanadzor culture. [19]

Ishtikuni, near modern Lchashen, is a notable Etiunian archaeological site.

The Metsamor site, near modern Taronik, was an important metal-working center during the Iron Age. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shivini</span>

Shivini, also known as Siuini, Artinis, Ardinis, was a solar god in the mythology of the Iron Age kingdom of Urartu in the Armenian Highlands. He is the third god in a triad with Khaldi and Theispas. The Assyrian god Shamash is a counterpart to Shivini. He was depicted as a man on his knees, holding up a solar disc. His wife was most likely a goddess called Tushpuea who is listed as the third goddess on the Mheri-Dur inscription.

Urartian or Vannic is an extinct Hurro-Urartian language which was spoken by the inhabitants of the ancient kingdom of Urartu, which was centered on the region around Lake Van and had its capital, Tushpa, near the site of the modern town of Van in the Armenian highlands, now in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. Its past prevalence is unknown. While some believe it was probably dominant around Lake Van and in the areas along the upper Zab valley, others believe it was spoken by a relatively small population who comprised a ruling class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diauehi</span> Iron Age tribal confederation in the Caucasus

Diauehi (Georgian: დიაოხი, romanized:diaokhi, Urartian Diauehi, Greek Taochoi, Armenian Tayk, possibly Assyrian Daiaeni) was a tribal union located in northeastern Anatolia, that was recorded in Assyrian and Urartian sources during the Iron Age. It is usually (though not always) identified with the earlier Daiaeni(Dayaeni), attested in the Yonjalu inscription of the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser I's third year (1118 BC) and in later records by Shalmaneser III (845 BC). While it is unknown what language(s) they spoke, they may have been speakers of a Kartvelian, Armenian, Iranian, or Hurrian language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Menua</span> King of Urartu

Menua, also rendered Meinua or Minua, was the fifth known king of Urartu from c. 810 BC to approximately 786 BC. In Armenian, Menua is rendered as Menua. The name Menua may be connected etymologically to the Ancient Greek names Minos and Minyas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argishti I of Urartu</span> King of Urartu

Argishti I, was the sixth known king of Urartu, reigning from 786 BC to 764 BC. He founded the citadel of Erebuni in 782 BC, which is the present capital of Armenia, Yerevan. Alternate transliterations of the name include Argishtis, Argisti, Argišti, and Argishtish. Although the name is usually rendered as Argišti, some scholars argue that Argisti is the most likely pronunciation. This is due to the belief that the Urartians used the cuneiform symbol š to voice an s-sound, as opposed to representing the digraph sh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trialeti–Vanadzor culture</span> Bronze Age archaeological culture in the Caucasus

The Trialeti–Vanadzor culture, previously known as the Trialeti–Kirovakan culture, is named after the Trialeti region of Georgia and the city of Vanadzor, Armenia. It is attributed to the late 3rd and early 2nd millennium BCE. The Trialeti–Vanadzor culture emerged in the areas of the preceding Kura–Araxes culture. Some scholars speculate that it was an Indo-European culture. It developed into the Lchashen–Metsamor culture. It may have also given rise to the Hayasa-Azzi confederation mentioned in Hittite texts,and the Mushki mentioned by the Assyrians.

Hayasa-Azzi or Azzi-Hayasa was a Late Bronze Age confederation in the Armenian Highlands and/or Pontic region of Asia Minor. The Hayasa-Azzi confederation was in conflict with the Hittite Empire in the 14th century BC, leading up to the collapse of Hatti around 1190 BC. It has long been thought that Hayasa-Azzi may have played a significant role in the ethnogenesis of Armenians.

Nairi was the Akkadian name for a region inhabited by a particular group of tribal principalities in the Armenian Highlands, approximately spanning the area between modern Diyarbakır and Lake Van and the region west of Lake Urmia. Nairi has sometimes been equated with Nihriya, known from Mesopotamian, Hittite, and Urartian sources. However, its co-occurrence with Nihriya within a single text may argue against this.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erebuni Fortress</span> Fortified city, located in Armenia

Erebuni Fortress is an Urartian fortified city, located in Yerevan, Armenia. It is 1,017 metres (3,337 ft) above sea level. It was one of several fortresses built along the northern Urartian border and was one of the most important political, economic and cultural centers of the vast kingdom. The name Yerevan itself is derived from Erebuni.

Sarduri I, also known as Sarduris, Sedur, and Asiduri, was a king of Urartu in Armenian Highlands. He was known as Ishtarduri to the Assyrians.

The origin of the Armenians is a topic concerned with the emergence of the Armenian people and the country called Armenia. The earliest universally accepted reference to the people and the country dates back to the 6th century BC Behistun Inscription, followed by several Greek fragments and books. The earliest known reference to a geopolitical entity where Armenians originated from is dated to the 13th century BC as Uruatri in Old Assyrian. Historians and Armenologists have speculated about the earlier origin of the Armenian people, but no consensus has been achieved as of yet. Genetic studies show that Armenian people are indigenous to historical Armenia, showing little to no signs of admixture since around the 13th century BC.

The name Armenia entered English via Latin, from Ancient Greek Ἀρμενία.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lchashen</span> Place in Gegharkunik, Armenia

Lchashen is a village in the Sevan Municipality of the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarduri II</span> King of Urartu

Sarduri II was a King of Urartu, succeeding his father Argishti I to the throne. The Urartian Kingdom was at its peak during his reign, campaigning successfully against several neighbouring powers, including Assyria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aghitu</span> Place in Syunik, Armenia

Aghitu is a village in the Sisian Municipality of the Syunik Province in Armenia. It is located on the left bank of the Vorotan river, 7 kilometers east of the regional capital of Sisian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Urartu</span> Iron-Age kingdom of the Ancient Near East

Urartu was an Iron Age kingdom centered around Lake Van in the Armenian Highlands. It extended from the eastern bank of the upper Euphrates River to the western shores of Lake Urmia and from the mountains of northern Iraq to the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Its kings left behind cuneiform inscriptions in the Urartian language, a member of the Hurro-Urartian language family. Since its re-discovery in the 19th century, Urartu, which is commonly believed to have been at least partially Armenian-speaking, has played a significant role in Armenian nationalism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argištiḫinili</span> Archaeological site in Armenia

Argištiḫinili was a town in the ancient kingdom of Urartu, established during the expansion of the Urartians in the Transcaucasus under their king Argishti I, and named in his honour. It lasted between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. The ruins of the Argištiḫinili fortifications are 15 kilometres (9 mi) southwest of the present-day town of Armavir, Armenia, between the villages of Nor-Armavir and Armavir in the Armenian marz of Armavir. The town was founded on the left bank of the middle reaches of the Aras River. Over the centuries, the river channel has shifted to several kilometres south of the town.

The Urumu were a tribe attested in cuneiform sources in the Bronze Age. They are often considered to be one of the ancestors of the Armenians being one of the tribes which were part of the Armenian Hayasa-Azzi confederation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lchashen–Metsamor culture</span> Bronze and Iron Age culture in Armenia

Lchashen-Metsamor culture is an archeological culture of the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age in the South Caucasus. It was mainly spread in areas of present-day Armenia. Lchashen-Metsamor pottery was also found in the Ağrı Province of Turkey and in southern Georgia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Armen Petrosyan (2007). "Towards the Origins of the Armenian People: The Problem of Identification of the Proto-Armenians: A Critical Review (in English)". Journal for the Society of Armenian Studies.
  2. H. W. F. Saggs. "The Nimrud Letters, 1952: Part IV." British Institute for the Study of Iraq.Iraq. Vol. 20, No. 2 (Autumn, 1958), pp. 182-212. JSTOR   4199640
  3. 1 2 3 Sargis Petrosyan. "Light Worship in Etiuni Lands." 2019
  4. 1 2 3 I. M. Diakonoff. The Pre-History of the Armenian People (revised, trans. Lori Jennings). Caravan Books, New York (1984)
  5. Matiossian, Vartan (2009). "Azzi-Hayasa on the Black Sea? Another Puzzle of Armenian Origins". In Hovannisian, Richard G (ed.). Armenian Pontus : the Trebizond-Black Sea communities. UCLA Armenian History and Culture Series. p. 71.
  6. 1 2 3 Armen Petrosyan. Էթիունին հայոց օրրան. Գիտական հոդվածների ժողովածու, նվիրված Գրիգոր Ղափանցյանի ծննդյան 130-ամյակին. Երևան 2018, էջ 299-330։. Etiuni – cradle of Armenians.
  7. Raffaele Biscione. "The Roots of the Urartian Kingdom. The Growth of Social Complexity on the Armenian Plateau Between and Ancient Bronze and Early Iron Ages." Over the Mountains and Far Away: Studies in Near Eastern History and Archaeology Presented to Mirjo Salvini on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday. eds. Pavel S. Avetisyan, Roberto Dan, Yervand H. Grekyan. Archaeopress. 2019.
  8. Raffaele Biscione et al. . "The Armenian-Italian archaeological survey in the Sevan Lake Basin, Campaigns 1994-2000." In: Raffaele Biscione, Simon Hmayakyan Neda Parmegiani (Ed.): The North-Eastern frontier Urartians and non-Urartians in the Sevan Lake basin. Rome: CNR, Istituto di studi sulle civiltà dell'Egeo e del Vicino Oriente, 2002, pp. 10-16.
  9. A. Mosvsisyan. "Argishti I." Institute for Armenian Studies of Yerevan State University .
  10. 1 2 3 4 R.D. Barnett. "Urartu." The Cambridge Ancient History. eds. Stanley Arthur Cook, Martin Percival Charlesworth, John Bagnell Bury, John Bernard Bury. Cambridge University Press. 1982 edition.
  11. Armen Petrosyan. "Indo-European *wel- in Armenian mythology." Journal of Indo-European studies. 2016, 1-2, pp. 129-146"
  12. 1 2 Hrach Martirosyan. "Origins and historical development of the Armenian language." pp. 8, 18.
  13. 1 2 Hayk Avetisyan, Pavel Avetisyan, Arsen Bobokhyan, Knarik Navasardyan, Artak Gnuni. "Notes on Urartian Era Pottery Traditions in Armenia." 2019.
  14. Sargis Ayvazyan. "The Haykazunis and the Kingdom of Van (Ararat-Urartu)." Fundamental Armenology. No. 2. 2015.
  15. Aylin U. Erdem. "The Relationship between State and Nomads in the Urartian Kingdom." Over the Mountains and Far Away: Studies in Near Eastern History and Archaeology Presented to Mirjo Salvini on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday. Archaeopress. 2019.
  16. Pavel Avetisyan and Arsen Bobokhyan. "Archaeology of Armenia in a Regional Context." National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography . 2009. p. 18.
  17. Ruzan Mrtchyan. "The ancient population of Lchashen as a representative of the Bronze Age Armenian population." Moscow University Bulletin. Issue 23. 2014.
  18. Ali Çifçi. "Control of Capital in Urartu: Economic Resources and Movement of Commodities." Brill. 2017.
  19. Robert Hewsen. Armenia: A Historical Atlas. University of Chicago Press. 2001. p. 22.
  20. Krzysztof Jakubiak and Kinga Bigoraj. "Metsamor: the Early Iron Age/Urartian settlement in the Aras Valley, Armenia." Antiquity. 94. 2020.