Ikun-Shamash
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| Ikun-Shamash 𒄿𒆪𒀭𒌓 | |
|---|---|
 Ikun-Shamash's votive statue, British Museum[1] | |
| King of Mari | |
| Reign | c. 2500 BC |
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 Ishqi-Mari, also read Išgi-Mari, also known from an inscribed statue now in the National Museum of Aleppo.[4][5]
In his inscriptions, Ikun-Shamash used Akkadian, whereas his contemporaries to the south used Sumerian.[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]
