Enheduanna

Enheduanna (Sumerian: 𒂗𒃶𒌌𒀭𒈾, also transliterated as Enheduana or En-hedu-ana, fl. 23rd century BCE) is the earliest known poet whose name has been recorded. She was the High Priestess of the goddess Inanna and the moon god Nanna/Sin. She lived in the Sumerian city-state of Ur. Her father was Sargon of Akkad and her mother was probably Tashlultum.

Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon of Akkad

Quotes

A Hymn to Inana (23rd century BCE)

A Hymn to Inana (23rd century BCE).

• She stirs confusion and chaos against those who are disobedient to her, speeding carnage and inciting the devastating flood, clothed in terrifying radiance.
  • About Inanna, Lines 18-28.

• Her wrath is a devastating flood which no one can withstand.
  A great watercourse, she abases those whom she despises.
  The mistress, a hurin bird who lets no one escape.
  Inana, a falcon preying on the gods.
  • About Inanna, Lines 29-38.

• On the wide and silent plain, darkening the bright daylight, she turns midday into darkness. People look upon each other in anger, they look for combat. Their shouting disturbs the plain, it weighs on the pasture and the waste land. Her howling is like Ickur's and makes the flesh of all the lands tremble. No one can oppose her murderous battle -- who rivals her? No one can look at her fierce fighting, the carnage, the engulfing water, raging, sweeping over the earth, she leaves nothing behind.
  • About Inanna, Lines 49-59.

• Her great heart performs her bidding.
  • About Inanna, Lines 49-59.

• Humbling huge mountains as if they were piles of litter, ... She brings about the destruction of the mountain lands from east to west.
  • About Inanna, Lines 60-72.

• Your great deeds are unparallelled, your magnificence is praised! Young woman, Inana, your praise is sweet!
  • About Inanna, Lines 272-274.

External links

• Penn Museum Collections Database
• Spotlight on the Disk of Enheduanna (Penn Museum Blog)

Authority control: WorldCat search