List of kings of Mari

Last updated

The city of Mari in modern Syria was ruled by several dynasties in the Bronze Age. The history of the city is divided into three kingdoms.

Contents

The first kingdom

The Sumerian King List (SKL) records a dynasty of six kings from Mari enjoying hegemony between the dynasty of Adab and the dynasty of Kish. [1] The names of the Mariote kings were damaged on the early copies of the list, [2] and those kings were correlated with historical kings that belonged to the second kingdom. [3] However, an undamaged copy of the list that date to the old Babylonian period was discovered in Shubat-Enlil, [2] and the names bears no resemblance to any of the historically attested monarchs of the second kingdom, [2] indicating that the compilers of the list had an older and probably a legendary dynasty in mind, that predate the second kingdom. [2]

The second kingdom

The chronological order of the kings from the second kingdom era is highly uncertain; nevertheless, it is assumed that the letter of Enna-Dagan lists them in a chronological order. [7] Many of the kings were attested through their own votive objects discovered in the city, [8] [9] and the dates are highly speculative. [9]

Statue of Iku-Shamagan, c. 2453 BC. Temple of Ninni-Zaza, Mari. National Museum of Damascus. Iku-Shamagan - Mari - Temple of Ninni-Zaza (retouched).jpg
Statue of Iku-Shamagan, c. 2453 BC. Temple of Ninni-Zaza, Mari. National Museum of Damascus.

The third kingdom

The third kingdom was ruled by two dynasties: the Shakkanakkus and the Lim. For the Shakkanakkus, the lists are incomplete and after Hanun-Dagan who ruled at the end of the Ur era c. 2008 BC (c. 1920 BC Short chronology), they become full of lacunae. [23] Roughly 13 more Shakkanakkus succeeded Hanun-Dagan but only few are known, with the last known one reigning not too long before the reign of Yaggid-Lim who founded the Lim dynasty in c. 1830 BC, which was interrupted by Assyrian occupation in 1796–1776 BC. [24] [25]

Ishtup-Ilum, Shakkanakku of Mari (c.2150 BC) Ishtup-Ilum statue (front, wider).jpg
Ishtup-Ilum, Shakkanakku of Mari (c.2150 BC)
Puzur Ishtar, Shakkanakku of Mari. (c. 2050 BC) Statue of Puzur-Ishtar.jpg
Puzur Ishtar, Shakkanakku of Mari. (c. 2050 BC)

Notes

  1. ↑ Gudug was a rank in the hierarchy of the Mesopotamian temple workers, a guduj priest was not specialized to a certain deity cult, and served in many temples. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamhad</span> Semitic kingdom in Syria

Yamhad was an ancient Semitic-speaking kingdom centered on Ḥalab (Aleppo) in Syria. The kingdom emerged at the end of the 19th century BC and was ruled by the Yamhad dynasty, who counted on both military and diplomacy to expand their realm. From the beginning of its establishment, the kingdom withstood the aggressions of its neighbors Mari, Qatna and the Old Assyrian Empire, and was turned into the most powerful Syrian kingdom of its era through the actions of its king Yarim-Lim I. By the middle of the 18th century BC, most of Syria minus the south came under the authority of Yamhad, either as a direct possession or through vassalage, and for nearly a century and a half, Yamhad dominated northern, northwestern and eastern Syria, and had influence over small kingdoms in Mesopotamia at the borders of Elam. The kingdom was eventually destroyed by the Hittites, then annexed by Mitanni in the 16th century BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ebla</span> Ancient Syrian city

Ebla was one of the earliest kingdoms in Syria. Its remains constitute a tell located about 55 km (34 mi) southwest of Aleppo near the village of Mardikh. Ebla was an important center throughout the 3rd millennium BC and in the first half of the 2nd millennium BC. Its discovery proved the Levant was a center of ancient, centralized civilization equal to Egypt and Mesopotamia and ruled out the view that the latter two were the only important centers in the Near East during the Early Bronze Age. The first Eblaite kingdom has been described as the first recorded world power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mari, Syria</span> Ancient Sumerian and Amorite city

Mari was an ancient Semitic city-state in modern-day Syria. Its remains form a tell 11 kilometers north-west of Abu Kamal on the Euphrates River western bank, some 120 kilometers southeast of Deir ez-Zor. It flourished as a trade center and hegemonic state between 2900 BC and 1759 BC. The city was built in the middle of the Euphrates trade routes between Sumer in the south and the Eblaite kingdom and the Levant in the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Dynasty of Ur</span> Royal dynasty in Mesopotamia

The Third Dynasty of Ur, also called the Neo-Sumerian Empire, refers to a 22nd to 21st century BC Sumerian ruling dynasty based in the city of Ur and a short-lived territorial-political state which some historians consider to have been a nascent empire.

Irkab-Damu, was the king (Malikum) of the first Eblaite kingdom, whose era saw Ebla's turning into the dominant power in the Levant.

The Dynasty of Isin refers to the final ruling dynasty listed on the Sumerian King List (SKL). The list of the Kings Isin with the length of their reigns, also appears on a cuneiform document listing the kings of Ur and Isin, the List of Reigns of Kings of Ur and Isin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sargon of Akkad</span> Founder of Akkadian Empire

Sargon of Akkad, also known as Sargon the Great, was the first ruler of the Akkadian Empire, known for his conquests of the Sumerian city-states in the 24th to 23rd centuries BC. He is sometimes identified as the first person in recorded history to rule over an empire.

Iblul-Il, was the most energetic king (Lugal) of the second Mariote kingdom, noted for his extensive campaigns in the middle Euphrates valley against the Eblaites, and in the upper Tigris region against various opponents, which asserted the Mariote supremacy in the Syrian north.

Hanun-Dagan, was the Shakkanakku and king (Lugal) of Mari reigning c. 2016-2008 BC. He was the brother of his predecessor Hitlal-Erra, and is recorded as the son of Shakkanakku Puzur-Ishtar on a seal discovered in the city. Although the title of Shakkanakku designated a military governor, the title holders in Mari were independent monarchs, and nominally under the vassalage of the Ur III dynasty. Some Shakkanakkus used the royal title Lugal in their votive inscriptions, while using the title of Shakkanakku in their correspondence with the Ur's court, and it is certain that Hanun-Dagan used the royal title.

Ansud, was an early king (Lugal) of the second Mariote kingdom who reigned c. 2423-2416 BC. Ansud is known for warring against the Eblaites from a letter written by the later Mariote king Enna-Dagan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shakkanakku</span>

Shakkanakku, was an Akkadian language title designating a military governor. Mari was ruled by a dynasty of hereditary Shakkanakkus which was originally set by the Akkadian Empire and gained independence following Akkad's collapse. It is considered that the Shakkanakka gained some form of independence and came to be considered as "Kings" from the time of Apil-Kin. A critical analysis of the Shakkanakku List of Mari has been published.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simurrum</span>

The Simurrum Kingdom was an important city state of the Mesopotamian area from around 2000 BCE to 1500 BCE, during the period of the Akkadian Empire down to Ur III. The Simurrum Kingdom disappears from records after the Old Babylonian period. It was neighbour and sometimes ally with the Lullubi kingdom. It has been proposed that the city was on the Sirwan River which becomes the Diyala river in Iraq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puzur-Ishtar</span> Military governor of Mari

Puzur-Ishtar was a ruler of the city of Mari, northern Mesopotamia, after the fall of the Akkadian Empire. He was contemporary of the Third Dynasty of Ur, and probably their vassal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tura-Dagan</span> Military governor of Mari

Tura-Dagan was a ruler of the city of Mari, northern Mesopotamia, after the fall of the Akkadian Empire. He was son of Apil-Kin, and brother of Ili-Ishar. He held the title of Shakkanakku, which was borne by all the princes of a dynasty who reigned at Mari in the late third millennium and early second millennium BC. These kings were the descendants of the military governors appointed by the kings of Akkad. He was contemporary of the Third Dynasty of Ur, and probably their vassal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ishtup-Ilum</span> Military governor of Mari

Ishtup-Ilum, also Ishtup-El was a ruler of the city of Mari, one of the military governors known as Shakkanakku in northern Mesopotamia, after the fall of the Akkadian Empire. He was probably contemporary with the Second Dynasty of Lagash, around the time of Gudea. He was the son of Ishma-Dagan and brother of Nûr-Mêr, both Shakkanakkus of Mari before him, and, according to the dynastic lists, he ruled after them for a period of 11 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ishma-Dagan</span> Military governor of Mari

Ishma-Dagan was a ruler of the city of Mari, one of the military governors known as Shakkanakku in northern Mesopotamia, in the later period of the Akkadian Empire. According to the dynastic lists, he ruled for 45 years, after Shu-Dagan, and was the third Shakkanakku ruler. Ishma-Dagan was probably contemporary with the Akkadian Empire ruler Shar-Kali-Sharri. He had two sons who succeeded him in turn as Shakkanakkus of Mari: Nûr-Mêr and Ishtup-Ilum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ili-Ishar</span> Military governor of Mari

Ili-Ishar, also Ilum-Ishar (𒀭𒄿𒊬, Il3-Ishar), was a ruler of the city of Mari, northern Mesopotamia, after the fall of the Akkadian Empire c. 2084-2072 BCE. His father was Apil-Kin (𒀀𒉈𒆠𒅔), and his brother was Tura-Dagan, who succeeded him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apil-kin</span> Military governor of Mari

Apil-kin, was a ruler of the city of Mari, northern Mesopotamia, after the fall of the Akkadian Empire c. 2126-2091 BCE. He was a son of Ishgum-Addu, and ruled 35 years, according to the Shakkanakku Dynasty List. He had two sons, who succeeded him in turn: Ili-Ishar and Tura-Dagan.

Ishgum-Addu or Ishgum-Addad, or more probably Ishkun-Dagan, was a ruler of the city of Mari, northern Mesopotamia, for eight years c. 2135-2127 BCE, after the fall of the Akkadian Empire. He had a son named Apil-kin, according to the Shakkanakku Dynasty List, who ruled after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nûr-Mêr</span> Military governor of Mari

Nûr-Mêr, also Niwâr-Mêr was a ruler of the city of Mari, one of the military governors known as Shakkanakku in northern Mesopotamia, in the later period of the Akkadian Empire. According to the dynastic lists, he ruled for 5 years, after his father Ishma-Dagan, and was the fourth Shakkanakku ruler. Nûr-Mêr was probably contemporary with the Akkadian Empire ruler Naram-Sin or Shar-Kali-Sharri. He was succeeded by his brother Ishtup-Ilum as Shakkanakkus of Mari.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 Haldar 1971, p.  16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Astour 2002, p.  58.
  3. 1 2 Liverani 2013, p.  117.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cohen 2013, p.  148.
  5. ↑ Kramer 2010, p.  329.
  6. ↑ Black et al. 2004, p.  112.
  7. ↑ Frayne 2008, p.  293–298.
  8. ↑ Frayne 2008, p.  293–298.
  9. 1 2 Hamblin 2006, p.  244.
  10. ↑ Spycket, Agnès (1981). Handbuch der Orientalistik (in French). BRILL. pp. 87–89. ISBN   978-90-04-06248-1.
  11. ↑ Parrot, André (1953). "Les fouilles de Mari Huitième campagne (automne 1952)" (PDF). Syria. 30 (3/4): 196–221. doi:10.3406/syria.1953.4901. ISSN   0039-7946. JSTOR   4196708.
  12. ↑ Cooper 1986, p. 87.
  13. ↑ Astour 2002, p.  57.
  14. ↑ Frayne 2008, p.  299.
  15. 1 2 3 Liverani 2013, p.  119.
  16. ↑ Frayne 2008, p.  315.
  17. ↑ Frayne 2008, p. 333.
  18. ↑ Roux 1992, p. 142.
  19. ↑ Frayne 2008, p.  337.
  20. ↑ Frayne 2008, p.  339.
  21. ↑ Heimpel 2003, p.  3.
  22. ↑ Bretschneider, Van Vyve & Leuven 2009, p. 5.
  23. ↑ Frayne 1990, p.  593.
  24. 1 2 Frayne 1990, p.  597.
  25. ↑ Bertman 2005, p.  87.
  26. ↑ Leick 2002, p.  152.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Oliva 2008, p.  86.
  28. ↑ Leick 2002, p. 81.
  29. ↑ Leick 2002, p. 18.
  30. ↑ Michalowski 1995, p.  187.
  31. ↑ Leick 2002, p.  76.
  32. ↑ Leick 2002, p.  78.
  33. ↑ Leick 2002, p. 168.
  34. 1 2 3 Oliva 2008, p.  91.
  35. ↑ Oliva 2008, p.  92.
  36. ↑ Leick 2002, p. 67.
  37. ↑ Frayne 1990, p. 594.
  38. ↑ Frayne 1990, p.  596.
  39. ↑ Oliva 2008, p.  87.
  40. ↑ Frayne 1990, p. 598.
  41. ↑ Frayne 1990, p. 599.
  42. ↑ Frayne 1990, p. 600.
  43. ↑ Porter 2012, p.  31.
  44. ↑ Feliu 2003, p.  86.
  45. ↑ Tetlow 2004, p.  125.
  46. ↑ Dalley 2002, p. 143.

Sources

  • Astour, Michael C. (2002). "A Reconstruction of the History of Ebla (Part 2)". In Gordon, Cyrus Herzl; Rendsburg, Gary (eds.). Eblaitica: Essays on the Ebla Archives and Eblaite Language. Vol. 4. Eisenbrauns. ISBN   978-1-57506-060-6.
  • Bertman, Stephen (2005) [2003]. Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-518364-1.
  • Black, Jeremy; Cunningham, Graham; Robson, Eleanor; Zólyomi, Gábor (2004). The Literature of Ancient Sumer. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-926311-0.
  • Bretschneider, Joachim; Van Vyve, Anne-Sophie; Leuven, Greta Jans (2009). "War of the lords, The Battle of Chronology: Trying to Recognize Historical Iconography in the 3rd Millennium Glyptic Art in seals of Ishqi-Mari and from Beydar". Ugarit-Forschungen. Ugarit-Verlag. 41. ISBN   978-3-86835-042-5.
  • Cohen, Yoram (2013). George, Andrew R. (ed.). Wisdom from the Late Bronze Age. Writings from the Ancient World. Vol. 34. Society of Biblical Literature. Atlanta. ISBN   978-1-58983-754-6.
  • Cooper, Jerrold S. (1986). Presargonic Inscriptions. Sumerian and Akkadian Royal Inscriptions. Vol. 1. American Oriental Society. ISBN   978-0-940490-82-6.
  • Dalley, Stephanie (2002) [1984]. Mari and Karana, Two Old Babylonian Cities (2 ed.). Gorgias Press. ISBN   978-1-931956-02-4.
  • Feliu, Lluís (2003). The God Dagan in Bronze Age Syria. Translated by Watson, Wilfred GE. Brill. ISBN   978-90-04-13158-3.
  • Frayne, Douglas (1990). Old Babylonian Period (2003–1595 BC). The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Early Periods. Vol. 4. University of Toronto Press. ISBN   978-0-8020-5873-7.
  • Frayne, Douglas (2008). Pre-Sargonic Period: Early Periods (2700–2350 BC). The Royal inscriptions of Mesopotamia Early Periods. Vol. 1. University of Toronto Press. ISBN   978-1-4426-9047-9.
  • Haldar, Alfred (1971). Who Were the Amorites?. Monographs on the ancient Near East. Vol. 1. Brill. OCLC   2656977.
  • Hamblin, William J. (2006). Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-134-52062-6.
  • Heimpel, Wolfgang (2003). Letters to the King of Mari: A New Translation, with Historical Introduction, Notes, and Commentary. Mesopotamian civilizations. Vol. 12. Eisenbrauns. ISBN   978-1-57506-080-4. ISSN   1059-7867.
  • Kramer, Samuel Noah (2010) [1963]. The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character. University of Chicago Press. ISBN   978-0-226-45232-6.
  • Leick, Gwendolyn (2002). Who's Who in the Ancient Near East. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-134-78796-8.
  • Liverani, Mario (2013). The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-134-75084-9.
  • Michalowski, Piotr (1995). Van Lerberghe, Karel; Schoors, Antoon (eds.). Immigration and Emigration Within the Ancient Near East: Festschrift E. Lipiński. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta. Vol. 65. Peeters Publishers & Department of Oriental Studies, Leuven. ISBN   978-90-6831-727-5. ISSN   0777-978X.
  • Oliva, Juan (2008). Textos Para Una Historia Política de Siria-Palestina I (in Spanish). Ediciones Akal. ISBN   978-84-460-1949-7.
  • Porter, Anne (2012). Mobile Pastoralism and the Formation of Near Eastern Civilizations: Weaving Together Society. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-76443-8.
  • Roux, Georges (1992) [1964]. Ancient Iraq (3 ed.). Penguin Putnam. ISBN   978-0-14-012523-8.
  • Tetlow, Elisabeth Meier (2004). Women, Crime and Punishment in Ancient Law and Society. Vol. 1: The Ancient Near East. Continuum. ISBN   978-0-8264-1628-5.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.