- Source: Ishqi-Mari
Ishqi-Mari or Ishgi-Mari (π
ππ π· iΕ‘11-gi4-ma-rΓ), previously read Lamgi-Mari, was a King of the second Mariote kingdom who reigned c. 2350-2330 BCE. He is one of three Mari kings known from archaeology, Ikun-Shamash probably being the oldest one. The third king is Iku-Shamagan, also known from an inscribed statue.
In their inscriptions, these Mari kings used a dialect of the Akkadian language, whereas their Sumerian contemporaries to the south used the Sumerian language.
It is thought that Ishqi-Mari was the last king of Mari before the conquest and the destruction of Mari by the Akkadian Empire under Sargon circa 2330 BCE.
Inscriptions
Ishqi-Mari is known from a statue with inscription. The statue is in the Aleppo National Museum. The inscription on the back of the statue reads:
π ππ π· / ππ π· / ππΌππ² / πππ€ / π¨π€ / ππΎ / ππΉπ΄ / ππΈπΊ
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"
This inscription was instrumental in identifying Tell Hariri with the Mari of antiquity.
Several cylinder seals with intricate designs in the name of "Ishqi-Mari, King of Mari" are also known.
Discovery (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 AndrΓ© Parrot on 23 January 1934.
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. He wears a fringed coat leaving one shoulder bare, a type of clothing also seen on contemporary Akkadian Empire depictions of rulers.