"I Am Enheduanna" THE WORLD'S FIRST AUTHOR WAS A WOMAN AND A HYMNIST TO THE GODDESS. DISCOVER HOW SHE WROTE HER WAY INTO HISTORY BOOKS IN THIS ONLINE EXHIBIT.

Her name, also spelled, En'hedu'anna, was given when she became an En Priestess.

It is interpreted in a number of ways, including:

- "Lady, high priestess."

- "High Priestess of An' (the sky god) or 'En-Priestess, wife of the god Nanna."

- "Lady Ornament of An."

- "En" (Chief Priest or Priestess), "hedu" (Ornament) and "Ana" (of Heaven).

Woman in Mesopotamian Costume. Image credit: Shutterstock.com

SOURCES:

Campbell, Mike. n.d. "Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Enheduanna." Behind the Name. Accessed April 24, 2022. https://www.behindthename.com/name/enheduanna.

‌‌Clark Creative Education. "Enheduanna: The First Writer." Biosphere, 2020.

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"Enheduanna." n.d. World History Encyclopedia. https://member.worldhistory.org/Enheduanna/.

"Enheduanna Poetry Modern English Translations Temple Hymns Exaltation of Inanna." 2022. Thehypertexts.com. 2022. http://www.thehypertexts.com/Enheduanna%20Poetry%20Modern%20English%20Translations%20Temple%20Hymns%20Exaltation%20of%20Inanna%20.htm.

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Meaning of Her Name

Penn Museum Link: Write Your Name in Cuneiform

Enheduanna's name is spelled in cuneiform on a specially commissioned pendant.

"I Am Enheduanna"
THE WORLD'S FIRST AUTHOR WAS A WOMAN AND A HYMNIST TO THE GODDESS.
DISCOVER HOW SHE WROTE HER WAY INTO HISTORY BOOKS IN THIS ONLINE EXHIBIT.

Meaning of Her Name

Meet Enheduanna

Welcome

Meet Enheduanna

The Power of Ancient Writings

Excavation of UR

The Exaltation of Inanna

Enheduanna's Enduring Legacy

Modern Mesopotamia

Parting Prayer

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