Dive into the life of Enheduanna, the first known author, as her hymns reveal the emotional depth of ancient spirituality. Explore the sensory experiences of women in the ancient Mediterranean, addressing historical silences and celebrating resilience. Uncover Egeria's spiritual journey as she climbs Mount Sinai, showing how ancient women's experiences transcend gender. This journey reframes motherhood and pregnancy, pushing for a universal narrative that honors the diverse bodily experiences of women throughout history.
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Quick takeaways
The podcast highlights Enheduanna's significance as the first named author, illuminating the complex emotional and bodily experiences of ancient women.
It emphasizes the importance of understanding women's subjective experiences throughout history, challenging traditional male-centric narratives and enriching historical perspectives.
Deep dives
Enheduanna: The First Named Author and Her Poetic Legacy
Enheduanna, a high priestess of the Sumerian moon god Suen, is recognized as the first named author in history. Living around 2300 BCE in the city of Ur, she authored numerous hymns that reveal her intricate relationship with the divinity she served. Her poetry reflects personal emotions, including devotion and feelings of abandonment, while also alluding to physical abuse she may have suffered. Through her vivid imagery, such as the scorching heat and swirling dust, she conveys the complexities of her embodied experience and the sociocultural challenges faced by women in her position.
Exploring the Bodily Experiences of Ancient Women
The podcast delves into the lived experiences of women in the ancient Mediterranean, emphasizing their bodily sensations and cycles. It highlights the importance of understanding women’s subjective experiences, which have often been overlooked or underappreciated in historical accounts dominated by male perspectives. With a focus on shared human experiences, the podcast aims to reconstruct an understanding of an ancient woman's life cycle, from menstruation to motherhood, pain, and pleasure. This exploration illustrates that while the historical context may vary, the essential nature of human experience—embodied and emotional—remains constant through time.
Diversity and Interdisciplinary Approaches in Studying Ancient Women's Lives
The podcast commits to a diverse representation of women's experiences across various cultures and time periods, employing an interdisciplinary approach that includes archaeology, art history, and social sciences. By examining multiple sources like letters, grave inscriptions, and medical texts, it endeavors to create a composite biography of ancient women, rather than a singular narrative. The discussion acknowledges the need to challenge traditional historical narratives that have typically centered on men, urging a reevaluation of women's roles as integral to the human experience. This broader perspective not only enriches the understanding of the past but also affirms the validity of women's stories in shaping history.
In a time when society is thinking passionately about bodily rights and who gets to make decisions about women’s bodies, Season 2 turns to history. Women in the ancient world mattered, and so did their bodies—maybe learning about them can give us new questions as we face our own world.
In our season intro episode, meet an ancient high-priestess of Ur and the first known author in human history: Enheduanna. Climb Mount Sinai with the Christian pilgrim Egeria. These two women and the records they left behind offer a personal glimpse into embodied moments of religious experience. And they help us set the stage for the season ahead.
Women Who Went Before is written, produced, and edited by Emily Chesley and Rebekah Haigh.
The podcast theme music is composed and produced by Moses Sun. Season 1 Episode 0 intro music is licensed from Krux Music Publishing Limited.
This podcastis sponsored by the Center for Culture, Society, and Religion, the Program in Judaic Studies, the Stanley J. Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies, and the Committtee for the Study of Late Antiquity at Princeton University.
Views expressed on the podcast are solely those of the individuals, and do not represent Princeton University.
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