Menua

Who is Menua?

Menua was the fifth known king of Urartu, an ancient kingdom in eastern Asia Minor, from circa 810 BC to approximately 786 BC.

A younger son of the preceding Urartuan King, Ishpuini, Menua was adopted as co-ruler by his father in the last years of his reign. Menua enlarged the kingdom through numerous wars against the neighbouring countries and left a large number of inscriptions across the region. He organized a centralised administrative structure, fortified a number of towns and constructed fortresses. Amongst these was Menuakhinili located on Mount Ararat. Menua developed a canal and irrigation system that stretched across the kingdom. Several of these canals are still in use today.

He was succeeded by his son, Argishti I.