The first author to be named in all recorded history is a woman: Enheduanna, a Mesopotamian poet, princess, and priestess. Enheduanna is relatively unknown, but predates Sappho by a millennium and much more of her work survives. Discovered in 1927 when archaeologists excavated objects bearing her name, Enheduanna – “Ornament of Heaven” in Sumerian – was a high priestess of the moon deity Nanna-Suen and a political figure who supported her father, Sargon the Great. She wrote 42 temple hymns and three stand-alone poems. Along with the Epic of Gilgamesh, scholars consider her writings an important part of Mesopotamia’s literary history.
Quite a magical character: a high priestess of a major religion. A princess who used her religious station to wield political power to bind together disparate parts of her father’s kingdom. The first author whose name survived the millennia.
Who else was Enheduanna? Who knew her? Who should be inspired by her? What does it mean to be the oldest known writer in recorded history?
