Nairi

[Arpa]

Nairi

 

Note: In searching for Nairi don't' use the keyword as NaYiri as I did. The latter is the trademark title of the literary periodical edited and published by Andranik Zarukian.

 

Nairi, from the Akkadian word "naru" to mean river, is the land north of Assyria between the Kashira mountain range (known as Masios in Armenian sources, also known as Dur-Abdin). A land comprising of many tribal dynasties which was known in Assyrian records as "matati Nairi" (lands of Nairi). First recorded by the Assyrian king Thukulti-Ninurta, 1243-1221 BC, where he had it recorded that his invasion against the 43 allied "kings" of the region was a success. Recorded by king Thighlatbalasar (1115-1077BC) it is said that he prevailed over the 23 alliances that comprised Tummen (Tmorik in Armenian) at the SE and Dayen (Tayq in Armenian) at the NW. In the Assyrian sources Nairian Erkirner( Nairian lands) is primarily limited to the lands around Lake Van, aka Sea of the Nairian Lands (Nairi Erkirneri Tsov), between the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates. The better known dynasties of the region are Tummeh, Katmukh, Mushki, Alzi, Ishua, Dayayen et al. During crucial times these disparate tribes would ally themselves against the external invasions, more often than not, Assyria.

 

During the 9th c BC most of these lands were united under the Urartuan state thereby the leader , as seen Akkadian records, would also be known as King of the Nairian Lands. According to Assyrian records it was eventually comprised of the lands between the Taurus mountains and the Lake Van, which was at times known as the City of Khubushkia named after the central city of the same name. In a record during the reign of Salmanasar III the king of Khubushkia is also named the King of Nairian Lands. Gagi, the king of the said lands successfully defended his country against Assyrian invasions in 858BC and preserved their semiautonomous status. Subsequent rulers and kings are mentioned as client states to Assyria . After the 9th c BC the kingdom of Khusbuskia succumbed to the overwhelming forces of Urartu, which in turn was defeated by Thighlat- Bilasarl III and annexed to the Assyrian kingdom under the title of Governorship of Turtan with Amid as the central seat. IN ensuing times the kingdom of Khusbushkia is listed as subject and an enemy of Assyria. After the destruction of the Assyrian Empire the name Khushbushkia ceased to exist and the land became the southern region of the United Kingdom of Armenia.

 

And since then we have been singing;

Ou Nairian aghchikneri hezajkun parn em sirum.

How's this?

Ou Nairian tghaneri hogeparar sarn em sirum.