Mari founded
2900 BCE.
Shown on the map at 34.549ยฐ, 40.890ยฐ.
Mari (Cuneiform: ๐ ๐ท๐ , ma-riki, modern Tell Hariri; Arabic: ุชู ุญุฑูุฑู) was an ancient Semitic city-state in modern-day Syria. Its remains form a tell 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) north-west of Abu Kamal on the western bank of the Euphrates River, some 120 kilometres (75 mi) southeast of Deir ez-Zor. It flourished as a trade center and hegemonic state between 2900 BC and 1759 BC. The city was built in the middle of the Euphrates trade routes between Sumer in the south and the Eblaite kingdom and the Levant in the west. Mari was first abandoned in the middle of the 26th century BC but was rebuilt and became the capital of a hegemonic East Semitic state before 2500 BC. This second Mari engaged in a long war with its rival Ebla and is known for its strong affinity with Sumerian culture. It was destroyed in the 23rd century BC by the Akkadians, who allowed the city to be rebuilt and appointed a military governor (Shakkanakku). The governors became independent with the disintegration of the Akkadian Empire, and rebuilt the city as a regional center of the Euphrates valley.
Text from the Wikipedia article Mari, Syria, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.