The Statue of Iddi-Ilum is a 21st-century BCE statue of the praying figure of Iddi-ilum, the military governor, or Shakkanakku, of the ancient city-state of Mari in eastern Syria. The headless statue was discovered at the Royal Palace of Mari during excavations directed by French archaeologist André Parrot. The statue was made of soapstone and bears an inscription identifying the figure and dedicating it to the goddess Ishtar or Inanna. The statue is now displayed at the Musée du Louvre in Paris. He was contemporary of the Third Dynasty of Ur, and probably their vassal.
Statue of Iddi-Ilum
The statue in 1936, at time of discovery.
The inscription on the bottom of the statue (front).
The inscription on the bottom of the statue (back).
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 Shakkanakkus 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.
Inscription "Iddi-Ilum, shakkanakku of Mari", using the Sumerian: 𒄊𒀴, šagina, on the Statue of Iddi-Ilum.
Statue of Ishtup-Ilum, Shakkanakku of Mari. (c.2150 BC)
Statue of Iddi-Ilum, Shakkanakku of Mari. (c. 2090 BC)
Puzur Ishtar, Shakkanakku of Mari. (c. 2050 BC)