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Enheduanna, Priestess and Poet the world’s first known writer

Enheduanna, Priestess and Poet the world’s first known writer. The Enheduanna Research Pages Women in Ancient Mesopotamia Inanna: The Opera. Original tablet. Reconstuction of alabaster disk,Philadephia. Enheduanna’s Inscription. Here are the first 4 lines of cuneiform:

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Enheduanna, Priestess and Poet the world’s first known writer

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  1. Enheduanna, Priestess and Poetthe world’s first known writer The Enheduanna Research Pages Women in Ancient Mesopotamia Inanna: The Opera Original tablet Reconstuction of alabaster disk,Philadephia

  2. Enheduanna’s Inscription Here are the first 4 lines of cuneiform: 1) en-he-du-an-na.....................En-he-du-ana,2) MUNUS.NUNUZ.ZI.............zirru priestess3) dam-nanna........................... wife of the god Nanna,4) dumu-...................................daughter The inscription continues: 5) sarru-GI............................ of Sargon, 6) [ lugal]............................... [king] of7) KIS................................... the world (Kish),8) e-INANNA.ZA.ZA............. in the temple of the goddess9) uri.KI-ma-ka...................... Inanna- ZA.ZA in Ur,10) bara-si-ga........................ made a socle and11) bi-e-du12) bara bansur-an-na...........named it: 'dais, table of13) mu-se bi-sa......................the god An'.

  3. THEOCRACY:Kings: Servants of the Gods The powerful gods communicate their desires to humanity through the medium of a powerful priestly class or autocratic king who serves as the intermediary. - Government of the gods/priest class - Ruler may be divine himself, or chosen by the god/gods - Each city had its own gods This system centralizes power in the hands of a small group of people and gives political decisions a religious authority Sumerian King List

  4. The City Center • Temples served civic and religious purposes • Daily sacrifices and rituals • Storage of surplus grain and other foods • Dwelling of priests and priestesses • Locale where craftsmen and artisans could practice their trades Ziggurats: Temples to the Gods

  5. Gilgamesh, the Hero-King • Ruled in Sumer c. 2700 bc • Epic of Gilgamesh chronicles his reign • Evolves from selfish, uncontrolled autocrat to benevolent ruler via: • friendship • rebellion • loss • quest • recognition of mortality • acceptance of responsibilty and service to the goddess Ishtar (Inanna)

  6. LAWS: The Code ofHammurabi, ca. 1760 bce • 2350 bce law reform by King Urukagina of Lagash to protect exploited citizens • 21st c. bce: earliest extant law code from Ur-Nammu (1000 years before the 10 Commandments Law-Codex of Hammurabi,first half of the 18th century BCE, Basalt, Louvre Full Text of the Code of Hammurabi

  7. Continual warfare among Sumerian city states and against invading tribes eventually led to the downfall of Sumerian civilization. But the influence of Sumerian civilization was felt in throughout the Near East, Egypt, India, the Mediterranean civilizations: Crete, Mycenae, Greece, Rome, and in Judeo-Christian traditions. A stele is a monolithic monument that commemorates an historical event. The Stele of Naram Sin has a formality and rigidity similar to Egyptian art. Compare its strong diagonal composition with the horizontal registers of the Standard of Ur. Victory Stele of Naram Simc. 2300- 2200 B.C.E. 61/2' tall, sandstone

  8. Flood Myths • Flood myths are present on every continent • Leeming: “The pattern behind the many forms that the flood myth takes is the archetype of the productive sacrifice…. The flood myth…reminds us that life depends on death, that without death there can be no cycle, no birth. • Floods connected with cleansing, washing away of blunders or evil • Spared survivors are heroes of a new life

  9. Blundered creation Error or evil by mankind Period of degradation Sacrifice and thanksgiving Salvation of survivors Retreat of gods from intimate relationship with mankind But: new and renewed relationship between humanity and divine consecrated Humans must work to live: learned arts and skills for survival Ante- Diluvian Post- Diluvian

  10. Gilgamesh text: ca. 2000 bce Utnapishtim or Ziusudra Enlil annoyed by human noise Ea/Enki warns Utnapishtim in dream of oncoming flood Boat built in 7 days Contents: family, kin, animals, craftsmen, gold 6 days and 6 nights of rain and rising water Ishtar (Inanna) regrets divine council’s decision Boat lands on Mt. Nisir Dove, swallow and raven released Sacrifice and libation Ishtar’s necklace set in sky as token Genesis text: ca. 1000 bce Noah God dismayed by evil of mankind Noah chosen as righteous man Noah follows God’s directions to build ark Contents: family, 7 of clean beasts, 2 of unclean 40 days and 40 nights of rain All mankind perishes except Noah’s family Ark lands on Mt. Ararat Raven, dove, dove released\ Burnt offerings Rainbow sent in sky as token of new covenant between God and mankind. Mesopotamian and Hebrew Flood Myths

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