Urartian Mass Deportation: Punishment or Policy?

Abstract

The Urartians are one of the ancient peoples who played an important role in technological advancements in the ancient Near East during the first millennium BC. The name “Urartu” appears as (U(ru)a†ri) in Assyrian texts in the 13th century BC, and, after a hiatus, reappears in documented texts in the mid-9th century BC. Despite fundamental changes in the structure of societies at the beginning of the first millennium BC, it can be understood why forced migration, exile, and resettlement occurred, and the resident ethnic groups remained as a limited power based on Urartian sources. The main issue of this research is to determine the approach to mass deportation by the Urartu state. Based on this, the following questions have been raised: What are the reasons and significance of mass deportation by the Urartu state? How can the approach and consequences of mass deportation during the time of Urartu be explained?This research was conducted within the framework of historical studies and aims to determine the consequences of mass deportation in the Urartu state. The research method is descriptive-analytical based on written sources. The research findings indicate that, unlike the Assyrians, the Urartians intended to dominate the surrounding areas after exhausting wars and military campaigns. They have attempted to implement a policy of mass deportation differently from other powerful peoples in the region by exerting influence on states, establishing favorable political relations through ethnic ties, respecting the gods of the region, and performing rituals.

Keywords

• urartu
• mass deportation policy
• exile
• resettlement
• urartian texts