Urartian (Araratian) Period (782-6th Century BC)
History:
Ancient Structures
Erebouni was designed as a great administrative and religious center, and a capital where royals lived. The King resettled 6,600 warriors here from the western parts of the Armenian Highland. The area around the fortress was partially surrounded with high walls. The entrance of the fortress was protected with high towers, with stairs leading to the square. The square divided the territory of the fortress into three parts: religious, royal (palace), and economic. The core of the religious area was the temple of the supreme god Khaldi.
The Name Yerevan
Throughout time, the name Erebouni eventually evolved into Yerevan (Erebouni = Erevani = Erevan = Yerevan). However, there is also a legend preserved from early Christian times that attributes the origins of the name “Yerevan” to a derivation from the expression “yerevats” (in Armenian: “It appeared”). Early medieval Christian Armenian authors believed that after Noah’s Ark had landed on Mount Ararat and the flood waters had receded, Noah, after seeing the ground below exclaimed, “Yerevats!” According to legend, that is the ground where the city of Yerevan was founded.
Erebouni Fortress
(Video)