Ikun-Shamash

Ikun-Shamash or Iku-Shamash (𒄿𒆪𒀭𒌓; fl. c. 2500 BC)^[2][3] was a King of the second Mariote kingdom. According to François Thureau-Dangin, the king reigned at a time earlier than Ur-Nanshe 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
Ikun-Shamash's votive statue, British Museum[1]
King of Mari
Reign	c. 2500 BC

Mari

Location 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:

𒄿𒆪𒀭𒌓 / 𒈗𒈠𒌷𒆠 / 𒑐𒋼𒋛𒃲 / 𒀭𒂗𒆤 /𒅈𒊏𒀭 /𒆪𒅆𒈨𒋤 / 𒊨𒋤 / 𒀭𒌓 / 𒊕𒄸𒁺

i-ku-^Dutu / lugal ma-ri2^ki / ensi2gal / ^Den-lil2 / ar-ra^D / 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"

— Statue inscription of Ikun-Shamash^[7][8]

The statue is located in the British Museum.

• 
  Statue of Iku-Shamash, King of Mari c. 2400 BC (in the rear)
• 
  The inscription on the statue^[8]
• 
  Inscription on the statue: "Ikun-Shamash, King of Mari" (𒄿𒆪𒀭𒌓 𒈗 𒈠𒌷𒆠, Ikun-shamash, lugal Mari-ki)
• 
  Statue of Ikun-shamash, British Museum, BM 90828

King Ikun-Shamash of Mari
Regnal titles
Preceded by	King of Mari c. 2500 BC	Succeeded by Possibly Iku-Shamagan