How did prophets deliver messages from deities at Mari?

At the ancient city of Mari, prophets delivered messages from deities through spontaneous pronouncements, often serving to disclose divine wishes, warnings, or promises to the king. These messages were delivered by individuals who were believed to be inspired by the gods.12

The prophets at Mari were categorized into two primary types:
* muḫḫum: Often described as an "ecstatic" or "frenzied one," this individual was not always bound to a cultic setting and could receive messages through direct revelation from a deity.2
* āpilum: Known as "one who responds," this prophet typically operated within a group of fellow prophets.2

In addition to these prophetic pronouncements, deities at Mari also communicated with the monarch through dreams, which were carefully reported to the king by his officers. While these prophets played a significant role in delivering divine messages, the city also utilized other methods to discover the will of the gods, such as divination techniques like hepatoscopy (liver divination).12