The LRB Podcast
The World's First Author
Feb 14, 2024
Sumerian princess Enheduana, the world's first author, composed remarkable hymns as high priestess in Ur. Anna Della Subin discusses her new translation, challenging our ideas of authorship and literary history. They also explore the unique relationship between writing and weaving, the rediscovery of Enheduana's lost poems, the chanting quality of ancient verses, and metaphors of creation in literature.
45:58
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Quick takeaways
- Enheduana, a Sumerian princess, is recognized as the world's first known author, challenging traditional ideas of literary history and authorship.
- Enheduana's hymns, composed as high priestess of the temple of the moon god, showcase the power of literature in invoking gods and shaping human fates.
Deep dives
Enhedwana: The World's First Author
Enhedwana, a Sumerian princess who lived around 2,300 BCE, was not only a high priestess but also the world's first known author. She managed the affairs of the temple to the moon god while writing poems that exalted the power of the goddess Anana. Through her verse, she sought to avert calamities and shift human fates. Her poems were signed with her name, establishing her claim to authorship. Although the exact time and circumstances of her life events are debated, her existence as a real person and author is confirmed by archaeological evidence. With her poetry, Enhedwana not only shaped the ancient literary landscape but also raised questions about the nature of authorship and the mystical relationship between the author and their text.
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