The root of Arzashkun may ultimately be Proto-Indo-European *harg- or *h₂erǵ-, meaning "bright, white", by way of Proto-Armenian intermediaries "Arcesk'o" and then "Arčešo" (genitive: "Arčišoy").
[6] Arzashkun recalls the names Arsene and Arsissa, applied by the ancients to part of Lake Van.
Alternately, Arzashkun might represent the Ardzik of the Armenian historical records, located west of Malazgirt.
[7] At the headwaters of the river Tigris, there appears in the ninth century, B.C., an organized state of Urartu.
Shalmaneser regarded it as so menacing to Assyria's interest that he undertook an expedition in 857, claimed to have destroyed the capital Arzashkun,[8] penetrated as far as Lake Van, and left his inscription on Mount Irritia.