Angol
In The Urartians: Lords of the Armenian Highlands, Elliot Rowan tells the story of the powerful kingdom that rose among the mountains surrounding Lake Van and challenged the great empire of Assyria. Through impressive fortresses, vast irrigation works, and a network of fortified cities, the Urartians transformed one of the ancient world's most demanding landscapes into a thriving and influential state whose legacy would outlast its kings.
Drawing on royal cuneiform inscriptions, Assyrian records, and archaeological discoveries from sites including Tushpa, Erebuni, and Toprakkale, Rowan reconstructs a civilization known through its monumental architecture, bronze craftsmanship, and enduring engineering achievements. He explores Urartian religion, military power, political organization, and the kingdom's eventual decline amid the rising pressures of Assyria, the Scythians, and the Medes.
More than the story of a forgotten civilization, this book reveals how Urartu helped shape the history of the Armenian Highlands. Though its kingdom disappeared, its fortresses, inscriptions, and enduring cultural legacy remain etched into the mountains where it once flourished.
