Erebuni Fortress is the original name of Yerevan. Over time, due to phonetic changes, it evolved first into Erivani and then into the modern Yerevan. According to cuneiform inscriptions left by King Argishti I, the name “Erebuni” comes from the Urartian language and means “conquest” or “victory.”
The fortress was founded in 782 BC by King Argishti I, ruler of the ancient Kingdom of Urartu, which existed from the 9th to the 6th centuries BC. This makes Yerevan one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Erebuni Fortress is located on Arin Berd Hill and covers an area of about 8 hectares. Its triangular structure was reinforced on the southwest side by three massive walls, originally reaching a height of 10–12 meters, of which about 5–6 meters remain today.
Inside the citadel were the royal palace, the temple of the chief Urartian god Haldi, the temple of Susi, warehouses, living quarters, and even a stone water supply system — possibly extending from the Garni area. The Temple of Haldi was adorned with columns and wall frescoes, while the Temple of Susi had a special smoke vent, a sign of advanced architecture and engineering for that era.
Archaeological excavations have uncovered dozens of cuneiform inscriptions here, including one by King Argishti I himself, commemorating the founding of Erebuni.
In 1968, to celebrate the 2,750th anniversary of Yerevan’s founding, the Erebuni Historical-Archaeological Museum was opened. It houses more than 20,000 artifacts — ceramics, jewelry, tools, fresco fragments, and household items from the Urartian and early Armenian periods. The museum building itself is designed in the style of ancient temples, echoing the structure of Urartian palace complexes.
Visiting Erebuni offers a unique opportunity to touch the origins of the Armenian capital and witness where the story of Yerevan began.
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