Castle :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Castle

Turkey / / Balu

Inscription, Cuneiform

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Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

A cuneiform inscription from the times of the Araratian Kingdom in the territory of Balu Castle

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Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

A cuneiform inscription from the times of the Araratian Kingdom in the territory of Balu Castle

As of 2008, the castle of Balu had an information board (No. 7, photo by Samvel Karapetian) with the following texts:
(in Turkish) Palu kalesi (Urartu dönemi) (M.Ö.9.-M.Ö.600 y.y) Kaya üzerine inşa edilen yapı, Urartular devrinde kral Menuas tarafından yaptırılmıştır. Kale üzerinde görülen dış surlar ve bazı yapı kalıntılarında, moloz taş kullanılmıştır. Daha sonraki devirlerde onarim görmüştür. Çivi yazısından oluşan kaya kitabe Urartu Kralı Menuas`a aittir. Kalenin güney-doğu yönündeki dış surun bir bölümü ile bazı yapı kalıntıları mevcuttur. İçten kindık taşında son bulan gizli bir kanal ve “Ali gelmez” denilen Murat nehrine açılan, kısmen açık kanal taş merdivenli bir yolu vardır. Urartu kitabesi bulunmaktadır. Daha sonraki devirlerde Selçuklu, Artuklu ve Osmanlı iskanı görmüştür. T.C Palu kaymakamliği 19 mayıs 2004 (in English) The castle was built on rocks in Urartian period by the king Menuas rubble stones were used on the outer walls that are seen by the castle, and on same ruins of the construction. it was restored in the following ages. The stone Epitaph which was formed by cuneiform writing belongs to the Urartian king Menuas. Today, there are some part of the outer walls on the south-east direction and some ruins of the castle. there are a hidden canal that ends by the Kindik stone and an open canal, named “Ali Gelmez” Which has a rocky staired way. There is an Urartian Epitaph which belongos to the king Menuas in the 3 castle that was a place for people in the Urartian period in the following periods Seljuks, Artuklu people and Ottomans settled here. Transl. from Turkish: Balu Castle Urartian period (9 B.C. to 600 B.C.) It was built on a rock by King of Urartu Menua. Its ramparts and several structures preserved there are erected of undressed stones. The stronghold underwent repairs in different periods. The cuneiform rock writing belongs to Urartian King Menua. The surviving parts comprise the north-eastern section of the outer ramparts, and several buildings inwardly. It has an interior underground passageway which ends with stones of the type of kindik. There is another subterranean passage of cut-in-rock steps leading to the river Murat and called Ali Gelmez (part of it is outside). Later the castle was inhabited by Seljuks, the Artukhlu and Ottomans.

Kortoshian Raffi, What is Concealed in the Turkish Information Boards of Historical Monuments in Western Armenia?, in: "Vardzk", 2012, N 5, pp. 1-2.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2008 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

Partial view of the castle ramparts