| Ibbit-Lim | |
|---|---|
 Fragmentary torso of Ibbit-Lim | |
| King of Ebla | |
| Reign | around 1950 BCE |
| Father | Igrish-Kheb |
Ibbit-Lim[pronunciation?] was the earliest known ruler of theThird kingdom of Ebla, in modernSyria, reigning most likely shortly before 1950 BCE.[1]
Ibbit-Lim is only known by a fragmentarybasalt torso found in 1968 atTell Mardikh and now inAleppo, which was part of a votive statue forIshtar, once placed in this goddess' temple in theacropolis ofEbla.[2] A cuneiform inscription on it bears the name of themeki (king) of Ebla Ibbit-Lim, son of Igrish-Kheb, and claims that the statue was made "eight years after Ishtar's apparition in Ebla". It is believed that this text passage refers to the election of Ishtar as the poliadic goddess of Ebla, an action most likely brought by Ibbit-Lim himself, eight years before making the statue.[3]
Ibbit-Lim's torso was the first evidence permitting the identification of Tell Mardikh with the ancient city of Ebla, whose location had been lost.[4][5]
As one of the earliest rulers – if not the first one – of the Third kingdom of Ebla, Ibbit-Lim may have been the king who ordered the construction of city walls.[3] The names of Ibbit-Lim and his father Igrish-Kheb – who is not known to have been a king[3] – areAmorite, suggesting that the inhabitants of Third kingdom of Ebla were predominantly Amorites, as were most of the inhabitants of Syria at that time.[6]
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