Ishtup-Ilum, also Ishtup-El (, ''Ish-dub-ilum'', c. 2147–2136 BCE) was a ruler of the city of Mari, one of the military governors known as ''

Shakkanakku Shakkanakku ( Sumerian: , GIR.NITA or ''šagina'', , ''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 gain ...

'' in northern

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia ''Mesopotamíā''; ar, بِلَاد ٱلرَّافِدَيْن or ; syc, ܐܪܡ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ, or , ) is a historical region of Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the ...

, after the fall of the

Akkadian Empire The Akkadian Empire () was the first ancient empire of Mesopotamia after the long-lived civilization of Sumer. It was centered in the city of Akkad () and its surrounding region. The empire united Akkadian and Sumerian speakers under one ...

. He was probably contemporary with the Second Dynasty of

Lagash Lagash (cuneiform: LAGAŠKI; Sumerian: ''Lagaš''), was an ancient city state located northwest of the junction of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and east of Uruk, about east of the modern town of Ash Shatrah, Iraq. Lagash (modern Al-Hiba) w ...

, around the time of Gudea. He was the son of

Ishma-Dagan Ishma-Dagan (, ''Ish-ma- Dda-gan'', c. 2190-2146 BCE) 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 rul ...

and brother of

Nûr-Mêr Nûr-Mêr, also Niwâr-Mêr ( ''ni-wa-ar-me-er'', c. 2153-2148 BCE) 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 dyn ...

, both

s of Mari before him, and, according to the dynastic lists, he ruled after them for a period of 11 years. He is known from inscriptions mentioning the building of a temple, as well as from a monumental statue, discovered in Mari.

Statue of Ishtup-Ilum

His statue was discovered by the team of

André Parrot André Charles Ulrich Parrot (15 February 1901 – 24 August 1980) was a French archaeologist specializing in the ancient Near East. He led excavations in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, and is best known for his work at Mari, Syria, where he led i ...

on 14 March 1936, Syria. It has a rather simple and coarse design, a provincial characteristic during this period, and is significantly less sophisticated than the statues of his successors, such as

Puzur-Ishtar Puzur-Ishtar (, ''Puzur4-Eš4-tár'', c. 2050–2025 BCE) 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. He had several so ...

. The statue is now in the Aleppo National Museum, Syria. File:Ishtup-Ilum excavation in Mari, Syria.jpg, Ishtup-Ilum excavation in Mari, Syria in 1936, under

File:Ishtup-Ilum statue (head).jpg, Ishtup-Ilum statue (head) File:Ishtup-Ilum statue (back).jpg, Ishtup-Ilum statue (back, with inscription) File:Ishtup-Illum statue (three quarters).jpg, Ishtup-Illum statue (three quarters) File:Ishtup-Illum statue (side).jpg, Ishtup-Illum statue (side) File:Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku Mari-ki.jpg, Ishtup-Ilum

cuneiform Cuneiform is a logo-syllabic script that was used to write several languages of the Ancient Middle East. The script was in active use from the early Bronze Age until the beginning of the Common Era. It is named for the characteristic wedge-sh ...

inscription on the statue: "Ishtup-Ilum, Shakkanakku of Mari" ( ''Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku Mari-ki'')

Dedication tablets

Ishtup-Ilum is also known from a dedication tablet for the "Temple of the King of the Country" (either Dagan or Enlil) with the inscription: This implies that Ishtup-Ilum was the builder of this "Temple of the King of the Country", in which were also discovered beautiful copper statues of guardian lions, the " Lions of Mari", probably installed later during a rebuilding of the temple in the early 2nd millennium BCE. The Temple was excavated in 1938 by

. Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku of Mari, son of Ishma-Dagan, Shakkanakku of Mari.jpg, Tablet of Ishtup-Ilum. Obverse: "Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku of Mari, son of

, Shakkanakku". Reverse (hidden from view): " of Mari, the Temple of the King of the Country he has built".

Louvre Museum The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

AO 19823 Tablet of Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku of Mari, son of Ishma-Dagan, Shakkanakku of Mari.jpg, Another tablet of Ishtup-Ilum. Obverse: "Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku of Mari, son of

, Shakkanakku of Mari".

File:Ishtup-Ilum deposit for the Temple of Lions, Mari.jpg, Ishtup-Ilum deposit for the "Temple of Lions", Mari with dedication tablet of Ishtup-Ilum.

AO 19827 File:Ishtup-Ilum deposit for the Temple of Lions, Mari (plate detail).jpg, Ishtup-Ilum deposit for the Temple of Lions, Mari. Tablet inscription: "Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku of Mari, son of

, Shakkanakku of Mari, the Temple of the King of the Country he has built".

AO 19827 File:Ishtup-Ilum dedication.jpg, Ishtup-Ilum deposit for the Temple of Lions, Mari. Tablet inscription: "Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku of Mari, son of

, Shakkanakku of Mari, the Temple of the King of the Country he has built".

AO 19827

References

{{Early Rulers of Mesopotamia 22nd-century BC rulers Kings of Mari 22nd-century BC people