Enheduanna: princess became world’s first author
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Around 2285 to 2250 BCE, Enheduanna, the daughter of Sargon the Great, lived in ancient Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq, where she served as a high priestess and composed the earliest known works of literature.
During a period of empire building, Sargon united northern and southern Mesopotamia.
Enheduanna worked at the temple of Nanna-Suen in Ur, and her name meant “Ornament of Heaven.” She wrote hymns dedicated to the goddess Inanna, including a myth about Inanna and Ebih, and a collection of 42 temple hymns. Though writing was usually considered a male domain, Enheduanna’s works are central to Mesopotamian literature. She explicitly claimed authorship of her work, noting the challenges of the creative process, even experiencing writer’s block.
Archaeologists have found evidence of her life beyond her writings, including cylinder seals belonging to her servants and a restored alabaster relief depicting her overseeing a libation offering. Her poetry describes a struggle against a rival named Lugalanne, who attempted to remove her from her position, and she credited the goddess Inanna with restoring her authority. In 2015, astronomers named a crater on Mercury in her honor, recognizing the possible early scientific observations within her poetic descriptions of the stars.
