that spot was already taken by someone else. You think its a man huh? Well, sorry to
disappoint but its a woman! A woman named Enheduana is the first "bestselling author"
in the world. Almost 4,300 years ago Enheduana lived. She was part of the riyal family.
Her father one of the greatest kings of all Akkad Sargon, her two twin brothers, Rimush and
Manishtusu and Enheduana all lived in a "spanking-new big palace, surrounded by the city
state of Akkad". Enheduans father was born into a poor family who worked on a farm. Slowly
Sarhon began to climb up the social class. Soon he became a "humble cupbearer" for the King
of Kish. No one really knows how Sargon then came to the throne but he mkanaged because of
his strong personallity. Because Enheduana was born with royal blood she had the privillag
e to learn how to read and write. Man were mostly educated back then but since she was a da
ughter of a powerful kind Edheduana learned how to write and read. Enheduana is known for
not nly being the first female author but also for being the first author who published
their name in her writing. Sargon slowly gained control of Kish and Akkad two near by city
states. Over time the close by independent cities like Kish, Akkad and Ur fought against
King Sargon because they wanted to control larger regions of land. Sargon fought back and
won control over them once again. Enheduana was becoming smarter and more intelligent ever
y day which is why her father soon appointed her as the high priestess to Nanna, the msot
important moon good of Sumer. In order to perform all of her high duties Enheduana had to
travel out of her home into Ur which was one of the most secret cities of Sumer. Ur had a
very unusual order of houses and buildings. All of them were stacked around the ziggurat.
Ziggurat was like a tample that looked like a pyramif with steps. Each of Ziggurat's seven
stories was painted in a different color. The very top where Enheduana lived was blue
which ment that it was closest to Heaven. Enheduana learned fast and made a great piestess.
She had to perform numbers of jobs which included animal secrifises, plant secrifises all
to please the gods. The most important duty was the New Tar celebration which happened
each spring. It was the biggest and most exiting celebration of them all and it included
many old traditions life a "secred marrige between s shephed named Dumuzi and the moon
goddess Inanna." All these weird secrifises and traditions are to please the gods.
Enheduana kept her high priestess status for more then twenty five years. In those twenty
five years she also wrote a total of forty two poems to the temples of Sumer and Akkad.
When Enheduans father Kind Sargon died Rimush the older twin ruled first, After him
Manishtusu's wife delivered their children who then took over. The twins were both killed
in turn by their enemies who hated them. After their death Enheduans's nephew came into
power. When he came into power Enheduana lost her priestess post. Her nephew kicked her out
and then installed his own daughter as high priestess. Enheduana returned and got the last
word on this unfortunate argument. She returned and wrote many more poems which we still
know today. Enheduana was truly an amazing woman with a very interesting background and
family. She inspired me with her great efforts and accomplishments and I hope she inspired
you too.
Leon, Vicki. "Enheduana of Sumer." Women of Ancient Times. By Vicki Leon. New York: Hold, 2010.
49-53. Print.
