Enheduanna

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Enheduanna (c. 2285-2250 BCE; En-hedu-Ana, EN.HÉ.DU.AN.NA 𒂗𒃶𒁺𒀭𒈾 "lord ornament of An (the sky)") was a Sumerian/Akkadian high priestess of the moon god Nanna (Sin) in Ur, who came to honor Inanna above all the other gods of the Sumerian pantheon. A single tablet records her as the "daughter of Sargon of Akkad" a relationship that has been taken both literally and ritually. If literally true, the relationship attests Sargon's successful policy of appointing members of his family to important posts. She was eventually dislodged from her position by the local priests, showing this "imperial" appointment to be locally unacceptable. She called herself the embodiment of the Goddess Ningal, the wife of the moon God Nanna.

[edit] Hymns

Enheduanna is known to us as the author of several Sumerian hymns. She is generally considered the earliest author known by name. The hymns she wrote to Inanna constitute the earliest written portrayal of a goddess, and in celebrating her individual relationship with Inanna, Enheduanna sets down the earliest surviving verbal account of an individual's consciousness of her inner life.

  • Nin-me-sara, "The Exhaltation of Inanna", 153 lines, edited and translated by Hallo and van Dijk (1968). The first 65 lines address the goddess with a list of epithets, comparing her to An the supreme god of the pantheon. Then, Enheduanna speaks in the first person, complaining that she was exiled from the temple and the cities of Ur and Uruk, asking for intercession of Nanna. Lines 122-135 recite divine attributes of Inanna
  • In-nin sa-gur-ra (named by incipit), 274 lines (incomplete), edited by Sjoberg (1976) using 29 fragments.
  • In-nin me-hus-a, "Inanna and Ebih", first translated by Limet (1969)
  • The Temple Hymns, edited by Sjoberg and Bergmann (1969): 42 hymns of varying length, addressed to temples.
  • Hymn to Nanna, edited by Westenholz

Westenholz edited another fragmentary hymn dedicated to Enheduanna, apparently by an anonymous composer, indicating her apotheosis following her death.

[edit] Literature

  • Betty De Shong Meador, Inanna, Lady of Largest Heart: Poems of the Sumerian High Priestess Enheduanna, University of Texas (2001), ISBN 0-292-75242-3
  • William W. Hallo and J.J.A. Van Dijk, The Exaltation of Inanna, Yale University Press, 1968.
  • Janet Roberts, 'Enheduanna, Daughter of King Sargon

Princess, Poet, Priestess (2300 B.C.)', Transoxiana 8 (2004) [1]

  • Ake Sjoberg and E. Bermann, The Collection of the Sumerian Temple Hymns, Locust Valley, J.J. Augustin, 1969.
  • Ake Sjoberg, 'In-nin sa-gur-ra: A Hymn to the Goddess Inanna by the en-Priestess Enheduanna', Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archaeologie 65 (1975), 161-253.

[edit] External links


History of Sumer:
Notable Rulers of Sumer
Legendary Kings:  Alulim Dumuzid Ziusudra
First Dynasty of Kish:  Etana Enmebaragesi
First Dynasty of Uruk:  Enmerkar Lugalbanda Gilgamesh
First Dynasty of Ur:  Meskalamdug Mesannepada Puabi
Dynasty of Adab:  Lugal-Anne-Mundu
Third Dynasty of Kish:  Kubaba
First Dynasty of Lagash:  Ur-Nanshe Eannatum En-anna-tum I
Entemena Urukagina
Third Dynasty of Uruk:  Lugal-Zage-Si
Dynasty of Akkad:  Sargon Enheduanna Manishtushu
Naram-Sin Shar-Kali-Sharri Dudu Shu-turul
Second Dynasty of Lagash:  Gudea
Fifth Dynasty of Uruk:  Utu-hegal
Third Dynasty of Ur:  Ur-Nammu Shulgi Amar-Sin Shu-Sin Ibbi-Sin
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