Ili-ishmani ( '' i3-li2-isz-ma-ni'') was a ruler of Elam around 2200 BCE. His name is purely

Akkadian Akkadian or Accadian may refer to: * Akkadians, inhabitants of the Akkadian Empire * Akkadian language, an extinct Eastern Semitic language * Akkadian literature, literature in this language * Akkadian cuneiform Cuneiform is a logo- syllabi ...

, and he was in charge of Elam at the time of Naram-Sin and/or

Shar-Kali-Sharri Shar-Kali-Sharri (, '' DShar-ka-li-Sharri''; reigned c. 2217–2193 BC middle chronology, c. 2153–2129 BC short chronology) was a king of the Akkadian Empire. Rule Succeeding his father Naram-Sin in c. 2217 BC, he came to the throne in an age ...

, and probably their vassal. His title of "Military Governor" (''

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 Akkadian, GIR.NITA in Sumerian) suggests that he was a dependent of the Akkadian kings, rather than an independent ruler. Ili-ishmani rose from the position of scribe, already one of the top three positions in the land, to the position of Governor. His predecessor was probably Epirmupi. After him, and the weakening 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 ...

, rule in Elam probably reverted to local rulers of the

Awan Dynasty The Awan Dynasty ( Sumerian: ''lugal-e-ne a-wa-anki'', "Kings of Awan") was the first dynasty of Elam of which very little of anything is known today, appearing at the dawn of historical record. The Dynasty corresponds to the early part of the Ol ...

Axe fragment

The fragment of an axe is known, which was dedicated by Ili-ishmani. It reads:

Seal inscription

A seal found in

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 ...

also has the inscription "Ili-ishmani Governor ('' Ensi'') of Susa" ( ''Ili-ishmani ensi Shushanki''). File:Ili-ishmani ensi Shushanki.jpg, Seal found in

, with the inscription "Ili-ishmani Governor of Susa" ( ''Ili-ishmani ensi Shushanki'') on the reverse (columns 2 and 3)

References

{{Early Rulers of Mesopotamia Elamite people Elamite kings 23rd-century BC rulers Awan Dynasty