The Assyrian Impact on Urarṭu: Toponyms and Ideological Motifs
The Assyrian Impact on Urarṭu: Toponyms and Ideological Motifs

Summary/Abstract: The main element of the Assyrian culture that Urarṭu adopted was the Neo-Assyrian cuneiform writing system. Along with the writing system various aspects of Assyrian culture were taken over as well. The Urarṭian royal titulary and epithets, both of which were strongly connected to the royal ideology, were taken over from the Assyrians. Aside from them, other ideological motifs were borrowed as well. The present paper investigates the Assyrian patterns and ideological motifs, which were adopted and adapted in Urarṭian royal inscriptions. Additionally it discusses the toponyms Nai’ri, Urarṭu and Bia (the latter often referred to as Biainili in modern studies) in the Assyrian and Urarṭian sources, the relationship between these toponyms, and their development over time.

• Details
• Contents