Shibtu
Flourished circa 1750 B.C.E., Mari, Syria
Shibtu was queen of Mari, an ancient Syrian city. Archaeologists have uncovered many tablets of correspondence between Shibtu and her husband, King Zimri-Lim, and others showing that she often managed the affairs of the kingdom. Probably living sometime in the eighteenth century B.C.E., she performed all the duties of head of state when Zimri-Lim was away on military expeditions.