Although populated mostly by Armenians, Urartu was ruled (at least during the first centuries) by a non-Armenian and non-Indo-European dynasty. In 782 BC, the Urartian king Argishti I founded the fortified city of Erebuni, which is today’s Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Another major city in the Valley of Ararat was Argishti-khinili, also founded by Argishti I in the year 775 BC.
In the late VII century BC, Urartu, weakened by Scythian invasions, fell, but after several decades was revived under the Armenian Yervanduni (the Orontides) dynasty with the capital in Armavir, former Argishti-khinili. The revived kingdom was already called Armenia by its neighbors, but in some languages the older name, Urartu, was still in use. In the famous tri-lingual Behistun inscription of Persian king Darius the Great (522-486) the same country is referred to as ‘Armenia’ in the Persian and Elamite versions, and ‘Urartu’ in the Akkadian version.
“Urartu: The Forgotten Kingdom” was filmed for the 2800th anniversary of Yerevan and is the first documentary drama representing the history of the state of Urartu from the moment of its emergence to its fall. The viewer will see scenes from the ancient history of Armenia come to life, as well as famous historical characters – Kings Menua, Argishti and the beautiful Queen of Assyria, Queen Semiramis.
Urartu: The Forgotten Kingdom
Watch the full-length film here:
https://tubitv.com/movies/608312/urartu-the-forgotten-kingdom
Written and Directed by: Vaga Vardanyan