Princess, Priestess & Poet Enheduana: History’s First Named Author

Princess, Priestess & Poet Enheduana: History’s First Named Author
Alhena Gadotti – Towson University

Enheduana was the daughter of Sargon The Great of Akkad (23rd century BCE), and is one of the most intriguing, yet elusive, women from antiquity. She has been celebrated as the earliest known named author in world history.

Royal princess, priestess, and putative poet, Enheduana deserves as much attention as her martial relatives. A crucial contributor to her father’s military ambitions, Enheduana nonetheless wielded religious and economic power, as evidenced by primary and secondary sources.

Even more interestingly, Enheduana remained alive in the cultural memory of those who came after her, so much so that writings attributed to her were integrated into the scribal curriculum centuries after her death.

This presentation will situate Enheduana in the tumultuous times in which she lived to gain a better understanding of her roles as princess, priestess of the Sumerian moon cult, and illustrious poet.