Carved into the rugged slopes of Van Castle in eastern Turkey is an expansive ancient inscription, measuring about 49 feet in width and reaching up to a towering 82 feet in height. Dating from the rule of King Xerxes I of Persia, between 516 and 465 BC, this inscription stands as a testament to the grand ambitions and notable achievements of that era.
Written in the languages of Old Persian, Elamite, and Akkadian, the inscription narrates King Xerxes’ ambitious project: the creation of an extensive canal system designed to improve agricultural productivity and enhance connectivity across the region. This monumental relic not only highlights the technological capabilities of the Persian Empire but also provides precious insights into the social and political dynamics of ancient Mesopotamia.
Once, upon the rugged terrains surrounding Lake Van, stood an imposing structure, the Van Castle. This castle, a monumental fortification carved from the enduring stone of the land, was not just a simple fortress; it was a sentinel overseeing the ancient capital of Tuspa, whispering tales of the Urartian Kingdom.
Its location on a steep cliff by the lake, a mere 5 kilometers from the bustling city of Van, offered a bird’s eye view that commanded attention and respect.
The construction of Van Castle was an endeavor of grand ambitions, orchestrated by Sarduri, the son of Lutipri, during the years between 840 and 825 BC. Stretching 1800 meters in length, 120 meters in width, and towering 80 meters high, it was a testament to the architectural prowess and strategic acumen of its builders.
This castle, among many fortifications scattered across what are now Armenia, Turkey, and Iran, served a pivotal role not primarily for defense against invaders but as a stronghold to assert control over the region.
In the shadows of the ruins that outlived centuries, one could find remnants of medieval constructions that once bolstered the ancient walls. Near this historic fortress, a remarkable trilingual inscription from the 5th century BC, attributed to Xerxes the Great, stood etched upon the rock face, approximately 20 meters above the ground. The niche for this inscription had been carved by none other than Xerxes’ father, King Darius.
Though Darius initiated this grand project, the rock surface was left rough, awaiting the inscriptive declaration of his son. The inscription itself, miraculously preserved through millennia, was divided into three columns of 27 lines each, detailing texts in Old Persian, Babylonian, and Elamite. It proudly proclaimed the might and divine sanction of Xerxes’ rule, echoing his lineage and his dominion over a vast empire.
The discovery and subsequent publication of this inscription in 1836 by Eugène Burnouf were nothing short of a revelation. Burnouf, through meticulous study, identified and published an alphabet of thirty letters from the inscription, aiding significantly in the decipherment of Old Persian cuneiform. His work illuminated not just the words of Xerxes but also provided a linguistic key that unlocked part of the region’s historical dialogue.
Van Castle, thus, stands not merely as a relic of ancient military strategy but as a beacon of cultural heritage and historical dialogue, bridging the past with the present through its silent yet eloquent ruins. The castle and its inscriptions serve as a chronicle of the ambitions and achievements of a civilization long past, and a reminder of the enduring human quest for legacy and understanding. As the sun sets on the cliffs of Lake Van, the echoes of Xerxes and his forebears seem to blend with the winds, whispering the age-old truths of power, legacy, and the eternal watch of the ruins over Tuspa.
