Chavushtepe (Haykaberd) Castle

 castle ruins, fortress, ancient civilization, interesting place

Chavushtepe Castle (Turkish: Çavuştepe Kalesi) or Haykaberd (Armenian: Հայկաբերդ) also Sardurihinili. An ancient fortress times of Araratian Kingdon (Urartu) found as Sardurihinili by the king Sarduri II in 764–735 period B.C. Mentioned also by the king's cuneiform inscriptions as Sardurihurda.

In Armenian folklore it is identified with Haykaberd or simply Haykʻ (Armenian: Հայք), the fortress built by Hayk, the legendary founder of the Armenian nation, close to the site where he slew the invading Babylonian king Bel.

There are upper and lower sections of the fortress in which the Temple of Khaldi or Irmushini, citadel walls, king's tower, workshops (7th century BC), storehouses, cisterns, kitchen, palace with a throne room, "royal" toilet, harem and colonnaded halls were located. A moat surrounded sections of the fortress. Four Urartian cuneiform inscriptions have been discovered at Sardurihinilli, of which the best preserved one reads as follows:

<< This temple is dedicated to the god Irmushini; I, Sarduri, son of Argishti, constructed it in a great feat when I took the throne in my father's place. Sarduri speaks: the rock was solid and nothing was built here. I, Khaldi, built this great temple to the god Irmushini and also a great fortress. I built a canal from the Gugunaini [Hoşap] River, I erected vineyards, ploughed fields; I built a new city here, created great monuments, established the name of Sardurihinili. Sarduri speaks: life and glory, as well as rule, power, strength, and happinness to Sarduri, son of Argishti, from Khaldi, from the Khaldian gates, and from the god Irmushini. Sarduri, the powerful king, the great king, the king of Biainili, ruler of the city of Tushpa. >>

Sardurihinilli was destroyed in the 7th century BC, presumably by the Scythians or Medes. After the Urartian era Sardurihinilli became Armenian fortress of Haykaberd (Hayk').

Located southeast to Lake Van.
Today: Çavuştepe village, Gürpınar district, Van Province, Turkey.
Historically: Haykaberd village, Hayoys-Dzor district, Vaspurakan province, Armenian Kingdom.
In early ages: Sardurihinili hills, Biaynili region, Araratian Kingdom or Urartu.