Enheduanna

The world's first named author and high priestess who merged religion, politics, and literature in ancient Mesopotamia.

Enheduanna (2285–2250 BCE), daughter of Sargon of Akkad, became the earliest known author in human history. As high priestess of Ur, she composed 42 temple hymns that unified Sumerian and Akkadian traditions, legitimizing her father's empire through divine poetry. Her works, inscribed in cuneiform, elevated Inanna (Ishtar) as a supreme deity, influencing Mesopotamian theology for centuries.

Her poem The Exaltation of Inanna blends personal struggle with political narrative, recounting her temporary exile during a rebellion. This autobiographical style was unprecedented, earning her the title 'Shakespeare of Sumerian literature'. By merging liturgical texts with royal propaganda, she established a template for state-religion alliances seen in later civilizations.

Archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolridge discovered her disc-shaped alabaster relief in 1927, confirming her historical role. Modern feminists celebrate her as a pioneer of female authorship—her hymns predate Sappho by 1,700 years. Scholars like Betty De Shong Meador argue her legacy reshaped ancient gender norms, proving women could wield intellectual and spiritual authority.