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Tushpa
38.5000° N, 43.3425° E
About
Tushpa (Armenian: Տոսպ, Տուշպա֊Վան Tosp, Tushpa-Van, Akkadian: Turuspa, from Urartian tur-, to destroy i.e. victorious) was the 9th-century BC capital of Urartu, later becoming known as Van which is derived from Biainili, the native name of Urartu. The ancient ruins are located just west of Van and east of Lake Van in the Van Province of Turkey. In 2016 it was inscribed in the Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey. It was possibly pronounced as "Tospa" in ancient times as there was no symbolic O equivalent in Akkadian cuneiform so the symbol used for U was frequently substituted.
Historical Timeline
Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history
Settlement evidence
c. 5000 BCE
Urartian capital established
9th century BCE
Orontid control
7th century BCE
Persian rule (Achaemenid)
6th century BCE
Xerxes trilingual inscription
5th century BCE
Conquest by Alexander
331 BCE
Part of Kingdom of Armenia
2nd century BCE
Byzantine control
628-640
Seljuq advances
11th century
Artsruni kingdom and cession
1021
Mongol conquest
13th century
Ottoman final control
1548
Tentative World Heritage listing
2016
Archaeological Features
Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site
Defensive Structures
Artistic and Decorative Features
Domestic and Habitation Structures
Environmental and Natural Features
Frequently Asked Questions
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