Ikun-Shamash
Ikun-Shamash or Iku-Shamash (πΏπͺππ)[2] was a King of the second Mariote kingdom who reigned c. 2500 BC.[3] According to FranΓ§ois Thureau-Dangin, the king reigned at a time earlier than Ur-Nanshe's of Lagash.[3] He is one of three Mari kings known from archaeology, and probably the oldest one.[2] Another king was Iku-Shamagan, also known from a statue with inscription, in the National Museum of Damascus.[2] The third king is Lamgi-Mari, also read IΕ‘gi-Mari, also known from an inscribed statue now in the National Museum of Aleppo.[4][5]
Ikun-Shamash (πΏπͺππ) | |
---|---|
King of Mari | |
Ikun-Shamash's votive statue, British Museum.[1] | |
Reign | c. 2500 BC Middle Chronology |
King of Mari |
In his inscriptions, Ikun-Shamash used the Akkadian language, whereas his contemporaries to the south used the Sumerian language.[2] His official title in the inscriptions was "King of Mari" and "ensi-gal", or "supreme Prince" of the deity Enlil.[2]
He is known from a statue with inscription, which he dedicated to god Shamash.[2]
Ikun-Shamash's territory seems to have included southern Babylonia.[6]
Statue
Ikun-Shamash's votive statue, set by one of his officials, was discovered in the city of Sippar; the inscription reads:
πΏπͺππ / ππ π·π / ππΌππ² / πππ€ /π ππ /πͺπ π¨π€ / π¨π€ / ππ / ππΈπΊi-ku-Dutu / lugal ma-ri2ki / ensi2gal / Den-lil2 / ar-raD / tush igi{me}-su3 / dul3-su3 / Dutu / sa12-rig9
"For Iku(n)shamash, king of Mari, chief executive for Enlil, Arra'il his courtier, dedicated his statue to Shamash"
The statue is located in the British Museum.
- Statue of Iku-Shamash, King of Mari circa 2400 BCE (in the rear)
- The inscription on the statue.[8]
- Inscription on the statue: "Ikun-Shamash, King of Mari" (πΏπͺππ π π π·π , Ikun-shamash, lugal Mari-ki)
- Statue of Ikun-shamash, British Museum, BM 60828
King Ikun-Shamash of Mari | ||
Regnal titles | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by First Kingdom of Mari |
King of Mari 2500 BC |
Succeeded by Iku-Shamagan |
Citations
- Spycket, Agnès (1981). Handbuch der Orientalistik (in French). BRILL. p. 87. ISBN 978-90-04-06248-1.
- Spycket, Agnès (1981). Handbuch der Orientalistik (in French). BRILL. p. 86. ISBN 978-90-04-06248-1.
- Alfred Haldar (1971). Who Were the Amorites. p. 16.
- Photograph in: "Mission ArchΓ©ologique de Mari 4 vols. in 6. Volume I: Le Temple D'Ishtar. Volume II : Le Palais. Part 1: Architecture. Part 2: Peintures Murales. Part 3: Documents et monuments. Volume III: Les Temples D'Ishtarat et de". Meretseger Books.
- Spycket, Agnès (1981). Handbuch der Orientalistik (in French). BRILL. p. 88. ISBN 978-90-04-06248-1.
- Robert Boulanger (1966). The Middle East: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran. p. 497.
- Jerrold S. Cooper (1986). Presargonic Inscriptions. p. 87. ISBN 9780940490826.
- "Inscription of the statue of Ikun-Shamash". cdli.ucla.edu.