Argishti II

Argishti II was a king of Urartu, an ancient country in southwest Asia. Urartu was centered in the mountainous region southeast of the Black Sea and southwest of the Caspian Sea, an area now divided among Armenia, eastern Turkey, and northwestern Iran.1

Urartu experienced a period of significant political power during the 9th and 8th centuries BCE. The Urartians, who called their country Biainili, were influenced by the Hurrians and Assyrians, adopting their script, literary forms, and artistic styles.1

Argishti II, who reigned around 712–685 BCE, continued the tradition of developing the country's resources. Although Urartu's political power waned after military setbacks, its culture continued to flourish for a time before being overcome by a Median invasion late in the 7th century BCE.1