Enheduana (2285–2250 B.C.E.), the daughter of Sargon of Akkad, was appointed by her father as high priestess in the Sumerian city of Ur, where she wrote a number of literary and religious works. These were frequently recopied long after her death, which suggests that people knew her writings throughout a wide area, and the works have thus been preserved on many cuneiform tablets. This is a part of her best-known work, a hymn to the goddess Inanna. As with many written sources that survive from ancient Mesopotamia, certain parts are difficult to read and the tablets are broken in places, so the text is somewhat fragmentary.

Your divinity shines in the pure heavens.… Your torch lights up the corners of heaven, turning darkness into light. The men and women form a row for you and each one’s daily status hangs down before you. Your numerous people pass before you, as before Utu [the sun-god], for their inspection. No one can lay a hand on your precious divine powers; all your divine powers.… You exercise full ladyship over heaven and earth; you hold everything in your hand. Mistress, you are magnificent, no one can walk before you. You dwell with great An [the god of the heavens] in the holy resting-place. Which god is like you in gathering together… in heaven and earth? You are magnificent, your name is praised, you alone are magnificent!

I am En-hedu-ana, the high priestess of the moon god.…

Advice…, grief, bitterness…, “alas.”… My lady,… mercy… compassion… I am yours! This will always be so! May your heart be soothed towards me! May your understanding… compassion. May… in front of you, may it be my offering. Your divinity is resplendent in the Land! My body has experienced your great punishment. Bitter lament keeps me awake with… anxiety. Mercy, compassion, care, lenience and homage are yours, and to cause flood storms, to open hard ground and to turn darkness into light.

My lady, let me proclaim your magnificence in all lands, and your glory! Let me praise your ways and greatness! Who rivals you in divinity? Who can compare with your divine rites? May great An, whom you love, say for you “It is enough!” May the great gods calm your mood. May the lapis lazuli [a dark blue semiprecious stone] dais, fit for ladyship,… May your magnificent dwelling place say to you: “Be seated.” May your pure bed say to you: “Relax.”…

They proclaim your magnificence; you are the lady.… An and Enlil [the chief god of Sumer] have determined a great destiny for you throughout the entire universe. They have bestowed upon you ladyship in the assembly chamber. Being fitted for ladyship, you determine the destiny of noble ladies. Mistress, you are magnificent, you are great! Inanna, you are magnificent, you are great! My lady, your magnificence is resplendent. May your heart be restored for my sake!

Your great deeds are unparalleled, your magnificence is praised! Young woman, Inanna, your praise is sweet!

Source: J. A. Black et al., Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/), Oxford 1998–2006. Used by permission of Oxford University, ETCSL Project.

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