Enheduana of Sumer

Book: Outrageous women of Ancient Times
Section: Enheduana of Sumer
Author: Vicki Leon                                                                                             (King Sargon)

          A lot of people, especially men, think that women are not strong or powerful and they don't believe much on our gender. In fact, those who say that they know nothing. Back in ancient times, a women called Enheduana was the world's bestselling author. By bestselling author I mean an author that a lot of people read her writings and it doesn't mean that she had sold a lot of copies of her books. But we we meant it like that, she wouldn't sell book she would sell clays and that is because this high priestess was living in Sumer, in the old times, back then when King Sargon, her father, lived. In those times, people could not easily get educated, especially women and only a few men had the chance to read and write. But Enheduana was one of those few people that knew both how to write and read. When she became a teenager, Enheduana's father, King Sargon, decided to put his daughter as a  high priestess to the goddess Nana once she was the one responsible and careful but also had the talent, in compare between her twin brothers. When she moved to Ur, one of the most sacred cities in Sumer, she used the room at the last floor of the ziggurat, the one that was the nearest to the heavens. There she write her poems and hymn. Her writings tell us a lot about the Sumerians and their religion but also about herself, politics and her father. After 25 years in her position, Enheduana lost her priestess post because a nephew of her came into power and once her father was dead, she couldn't do anything. Although so many years have passed, Enheduana will always be an important person in history, and we will always remember her writings!

Here is one of her poems:
The first lady of the throne room
has accepted Enheduana's song
Innana love her gain
The day was good for Enheduana, for she was dressed in jewels
she was dresses in womanly beauty
Like the moon's first rays over the horizon
how luxuriously she was dressed
When Nanna, Inanna's father, made his entrance
the place blesses Inanna's motherNingal
From the doorsill of heaven came the word: 'Welcome'



Bibliography:Leo%u0301n, Vicki. "Enheduana of Sumer." Outrageous Women of Ancient times. New York: Wiley, 1998. 49-53. Print.