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Ikun-Shamash
King of Mari / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ikun-Shamash or Iku-Shamash (𒄿𒆪𒀭𒌓)[2] was a King of the second Mariote kingdom who reigned c. 2500 BC.[3] According to François 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 Išgi-Mari, also known from an inscribed statue now in the National Museum of Aleppo.[4][5]
Ikun-Shamash (𒄿𒆪𒀭𒌓) | |
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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]