Nûr-Mêr

Nûr-Mêr, also Niwâr-Mêr (𒉌𒉿𒅈𒈨𒅕 ni-wa-ar-me-er; died c. 2148 BC)^[1] was a ruler of the city of Mari, one of the military governors known as Shakkanakku in northern Mesopotamia, in the later period of Akkad.^[2] According to the dynastic lists, he ruled for 5 years, after his father Ishma-Dagan, and was the fourth Shakkanakku ruler.^[3] Nûr-Mêr was probably contemporary with the Akkadian rulers Naram-Sin or Shar-Kali-Sharri.^[4] He was succeeded by his brother Ishtup-Ilum as Shakkanakku of Mari.^[3]

Nûr-Mêr 𒉌𒉿𒅈𒈨𒅕
King of Mari
Reign	c. 2154 - c. 2148 BC
Predecessor	Ishma-Dagan
Successor	Ishtup-Ilum
Died	c. 2148 BC
Dynasty	Shakkanakku dynasty
Father	Ishma-Dagan

Mari

Location of Mari

He is also known from four identical inscriptions on bronze votive tablets:^[5]

Nur-Mer bronze votive plate inscription (reconstitution with standard Sumero-Akkadian cuneiform).^[5][6]

𒉌𒉿𒅈𒈨𒅕 𒄊𒀴 𒈠𒌷𒆠 𒂍 𒀭𒊩𒌆𒉺𒂅 𒅁𒉌

ni-wa-ar-me-er shagina mari-ki e ninhursag ib-ni

"Niwâr-Mêr, Shakkanakku of Mari, built the temple of the goddess Ninhursag"

— Votive tablet of Niwâr-Mêr.^[5][7]

The goddess mentioned might have been the Syrian Shalash, the wife of Dagan, rather than Mesopotamian Ninhursag,^[8] as her name was commonly written logographically as ^dNIN.HUR.SAG.GA in Mari in the Old Babylonian period.^[9]

Nûr-Mêr Mari
Regnal titles
Preceded by Ishma-Dagan	King of Mari c. 2154 - c. 2148 BC	Succeeded by Ishtup-Ilum