Enheduanna, 2023
FIRE, WATERCOLOUR, INK, TIMBER
46.7 x 31.6 x 3 cm
The world’s first author wasn’t Homer or any other man, nor was it Sapho who came 1000 years later, it was Enheduanna (2285BC) the Mesopotamian high priestess of Ur (El-Muqayyar, Iraq). She is celebrated as the earliest known author in history, credited with composing some of the earliest works of literature.
Her work was written in the first person, with Enheduanna herself as the narrator, making her one of the first figures to leave a personal literary voice. Her legacy is not only one of literary achievement but also one of culture, as she helped shape the spiritual and intellectual landscape of Mesopotamian civilization.