Ikun-Shamash
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Ikun-Shamash
{{nobold|{{cuneiform|πΏπͺππ}}}}
| image = Ikun-Shamash.jpg
| reign = c. 2500 BC
| caption = Ikun-Shamash's votive statue, British Museum{{cite book |last1=Spycket |first1=Agnès |title=Handbuch der Orientalistik |date=1981 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-06248-1 |page=87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=idYUAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA87 |language=fr}}
| succession = King of Mari
| predecessor =
| successor =
}}
{{Location map
| Near East
| width = 260px
| float = right
| border =
| caption = Location of Mari
| alt =
| relief = yes
| AlternativeMap =
| overlay_image =
| label = Mari
| label_size =
| position = top
| background =
| mark =
| marksize =
| link =
| lat_deg = 34.549444
| lon_deg = 40.89
}}
Ikun-Shamash or Iku-Shamash ({{cuneiform|πΏπͺππ}}; {{fl|{{circa|2500 BC}}}}){{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S88UAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA16|title= Who Were the Amorites|author= Alfred Haldar|page= 16|year=1971}} was a King of the second Mariote kingdom. According to FranΓ§ois Thureau-Dangin, the king reigned at a time earlier than Ur-Nanshe of Lagash. He is one of three Mari kings known from archaeology, and probably the oldest one. Another king was Iku-Shamagan, also known from a statue with inscription, in the National Museum of Damascus. The third king is Lamgi-Mari, also read IΕ‘gi-Mari, also known from an inscribed statue now in the National Museum of Aleppo.Photograph in: {{cite web |title=Mission ArchΓ©ologique de Mari 4 vols. in 6. Volume I: Le Temple D'Ishtar. Volume II : Le Palais. Part 1: Architecture. Part 2: Peintures Murales. Part 3: Documents et monuments. Volume III: Les Temples D'Ishtarat et de |url=https://www.meretsegerbooks.com/pages/books/M4039/parrot-andre/mission-archeologique-de-mari-4-vols-in-6-volume-i-le-temple-dishtar-volume-ii-le-palais-part-1 |website=Meretseger Books |access-date=2020-04-07 |archive-date=2020-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407122226/https://www.meretsegerbooks.com/pages/books/M4039/parrot-andre/mission-archeologique-de-mari-4-vols-in-6-volume-i-le-temple-dishtar-volume-ii-le-palais-part-1 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book |last1=Spycket |first1=AgnΓ¨s |title=Handbuch der Orientalistik |date=1981 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-06248-1 |page=88 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=idYUAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA88|language=fr}}
In his inscriptions, Ikun-Shamash used the Akkadian language, whereas his contemporaries to the south used the Sumerian language.{{cite book |last1=Spycket |first1=Agnès |title=Handbuch der Orientalistik |date=1981 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-06248-1 |page=86 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=idYUAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA86 |language=fr}} His official title in the inscriptions was "King of Mari" and "ensi-gal", or "supreme Prince" of the deity Enlil.
He is known from a statue with inscription, which he dedicated to god Shamash.
Ikun-Shamash's territory seems to have included southern Babylonia.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2a8LAQAAIAAJ|title= The Middle East: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran|author=Robert Boulanger|page= 497|year=1966}}
Statue
Ikun-Shamash's votive statue, set by one of his officials, was discovered in the city of Sippar; the inscription reads:
{{quote|200px
{{cuneiform|πΏπͺππ / ππ π·π / ππΌππ² / πππ€ /π
ππ /πͺπ
π¨π€ / π¨π€ / ππ / ππΈπΊ}}
i-ku-Dutu / lugal ma-ri2ki / ensi2gal / Den-lil2 / ar-raD / tush igi{me}-su3 / dul3-su3 / Dutu / sa12-rig9
"For Iku(n)shamash, king of Mari, chief executive for Enlil, Arra'il his courtier, dedicated his statue to Shamash"|Statue inscription of Ikun-Shamash{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2W9OAAAAYAAJ|title= Presargonic Inscriptions|author= Jerrold S. Cooper|page= 87|year=1986|isbn= 9780940490826}}{{cite web |title=Inscription of the statue of Ikun-Shamash |url=https://cdli.ucla.edu/search/archival_view.php?ObjectID=P431171 |website=cdli.ucla.edu}}}}
The statue is located in the British Museum.
File:Statue of Iku-Shamash, King of Mari circa 2400 BCE.jpg|Statue of Iku-Shamash, King of Mari c. 2400 BC (in the rear)
File:Ikun-shamash inscription.jpg|The inscription on the statue
File:Ikun-Shamash Lugal Mari-ki.jpg|Inscription on the statue: "Ikun-Shamash, King of Mari" ({{cuneiform|πΏπͺππ π π π·π }}, Ikun-shamash, lugal Mari-ki)
File:BM 60828 Ikun-shamash.jpg|Statue of Ikun-shamash, British Museum, BM 90828
{{s-start}}
{{s-hou||||||name=King Ikun-Shamash of Mari}}
{{S-reg}}
{{s-bef
| before =
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = King of Mari
| years = c. 2500 BC
}}
{{s-aft
| after = Possibly Iku-Shamagan
}}
{{s-end}}