[2][3] According to another view, the local inhabitants gave the fortress this name because the Orbelian ruler Smbat (r. 1251–1273) is buried nearby in the settlement of Yeghegis.

[2] Scholar Ghevont Alishan considered the name to be purely folkloric in origin and referred to the fortress by the name of the nearby monastery of Tsaghats Kar.

[1] Smbataberd is located at the top of a mountain ridge to the east of the village of Artabuynk and to the west of Yeghegis, at a height of 2000 meters.

[5][6] It was built in a very advantageous position, guarded by steep cliffs on its eastern, western and southern sides, which are further reinforced by the fortress walls.

[2][9] Within the confines of the fortress little remains except for the faint foundations of buildings near the fortification walls and the keep located at the highest point of the site.

[3] According to historian and archaeologist Sedrak Barkhudaryan, Smbataberd, the settlement of Yeghegis, and the monastery of Tsaghats Kar formed "an architectural, spiritual and political whole" under the Yeghegis-based branch of the Syunis.

[5] This branch lost much of its political importance after the fall of the Bagratid kingdom (1045) and were eventually replaced by the Orbelians, who came to rule most of Vayots Dzor and Syunik in the 13th century.

[4] Notably, it was successfully defended against the Sajid general Nasr sent by Yusuf ibn Abi'l-Saj in the early 10th century.