Ishqi-Mari

Ishqi-Mari or Ishgi-Mari (𒅖𒄄𒈠𒌷 iš₁₁-gi₄-ma-rí; died c. 2330 BC),^[5] previously read Lamgi-Mari,^[6][1] was a King of the second Mariote kingdom. He is one of three Mari kings known from archaeology, Ikun-Shamash probably being the oldest one.^[7] The third king is Iku-Shamagan, also known from an inscribed statue.

Ishqi-Mari 𒅖𒄄𒈠𒌷
Statue of Ishqi-Mari,[1] Aleppo National Museum. Here seen at an exhibition in the Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris in 2014.[2][3][4]
King of Mari
Reign	c. 2350 - c. 2330 BC
Died	c. 2330 BC

Mari

Location of Mari

In their inscriptions, these Mari kings used a dialect of the Akkadian language, whereas their Sumerian contemporaries to the south used the Sumerian language.^[7]

It is thought that Ishqi-Mari was the last king of Mari before the conquest and the destruction of Mari by Akkad under Sargon c. 2330 BC.^[8]

Inscriptions

Ishqi-Mari is known from a statue with inscription.^[7] The statue is in the Aleppo National Museum.^[1][9][10] The inscription on the back of the statue reads:

𒅖𒄄𒈠𒌷 / 𒈗𒈠𒌷 / 𒑐𒋼𒋛𒃲 / 𒀭𒂗𒆤 / 𒊨𒋤 / 𒀀𒈾 / 𒀭𒈹𒀴 / 𒊕𒄸𒁺

ish11-gi4-ma-ri2 / lugal ma-ri2 / ensi2 gal / ^Den-lil2 / dul3-su3 / a-na / ^Dinanna-nita / sa12-rig9

"Ishqi-Mari, king of Mari, great ensi of Enlil, dedicated his statue to Inanna"

— Statue inscription of Ishqi-Mari.^[11][1][12]

This inscription was instrumental in identifying Tell Hariri with the Mari of antiquity.^[13]

Several cylinder seals with intricate designs in the name of "Ishqi-Mari, King of Mari" are also known.^[14]

Discovery (23 January 1934)

Excavation of the statue of Ishqi-Mari on 23 January 1934

The statue of Ishqi-Mari was discovered buried in the archaeological remains of the ancient city of Mari, in the Temple of Ishtar, by a French archaeological team led by André Parrot on 23 January 1934.^[15][16]

The statue shows Ishqi-Mari with a long beard and parted and plaited hair. He wears a hairbun similar to the Sumerian royal hairbuns, such as on the headdress of Meskalamdug or reliefs on Eannatum.^[1][17] He wears a fringed coat leaving one shoulder bare, a type of clothing also seen on contemporary Akkadian Empire depictions of rulers.^[15]

• 
  Ishqi-Mari statue (front)
• 
  Ishqi-Mari statue (side)
• 
  Ishqi-Mari statue (back)

In Aleppo museum

• 
  Ishqi-Mari in profile. He wears a hairbun similar the Sumerian royal hairbuns, such as on the headdress of Meskalamdug or reliefs on Eannatum. The inscription is visible on the back of the right shoulder.^[1]
• 
  Statues from Mari. The statue of Ishqi-Mari appears partially on the left: it is much smaller than many of the traditional Mari statues.^[1] Aleppo National Museum.
• 
  Ishqi-Mari (forefront, in profile), before larger figures^[1]

King Ishqi-Mari of Mari
Regnal titles
Preceded by Possibly Hidar	King of Mari c. 2350 - c. 2330 BC	Succeeded by Position possibly abolished