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Hymns and Psalms of Enheduanna
Enheduanna (born circa 2300 B.C.) is the first writer in world history whose name is known. She was the daughter of Sargon (Sharru-kin) of Akkad, the first man to conquer an empire, and was the priestess of Inanna aka Ishstar. Isaiah ain’t got nothin’ on this girl. His Loveliness the Pope, the Reverend and Dr. Omed, would like to dedicate this post of Enheduanna’s psalms to Donald Rumsfeld and his concept of “untidiness.”
Condemning the Moongod
As for me, my Nanna ignores me
He has taken me to destruction,
To the alleys of murder.
Ashimbabbar has not judged me wrong.
If he had, what do I care?
If he had, what do I care?
I am Enheduanna.
I was triumphant, glorious,
But he drove me from my sanctuary.
He made me escape like a swallow
From the window.
My life is in flames.
He made me walk through the brambles
On the mountain.
He stripped me of the crown correct
For a high priestess.
He gave me a dagger and a sword,
And said:
“Turn them against your own body.
They are made for you.”
In Praise of Inanna
No one has sung “Let the world know!”
To Nanna
But only to his daughter, you, Inanna.
You are lofty like Heaven. “Let the world know!”
You are wide like the Earth. “Let the world know!”
You devastate the rebellious land. “Let the world know!”
You roar over the land. “Let the world know!”
You smash their heads. “Let the world know!”
You devour corpses like a dog. “Let the world know!”
Your glance is terrible. “Let the world know!”
You raise your terrible glance. “Let the world know!”
Your glance is flashing. “Let the world know!”
You are victorious. “Let the world know!”
No one has sung “Let the world know!”
To Nanna
But only to his daughter, you, Inanna.
O my lady, this song has made you great
And exalted you.
O my lady, I have told your fury!
The preceding versions of these Enheduanna’s songs were adapted by Aliki and Willis Barnstone from the translation by William W. Hallo and J.J.A. van Dijk, and originally published in A Book of Women Poets: From Antiquity to Now.
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