Outside of this novel, readers may encounter many variant spellings of the Sumerian and Akkadian names and words used here (for example, the name of the goddess Nin Khursang is also spelled Ninhursag, Ninkhursang, Ninhursanga, and Nin?ursa?). Our heroine’s name is typically spelled Enheduanna in English, but I have chosen to write it as En Kheduana to emphasize her title (En) and the KH sound present in the word. I do use the spelling Enheduanna when referring to her as a historical figure, such as in the title and the Author’s Note. Pronunciation of Akkadian and Sumerian words is fairly consistent, though there are some features unique to one language or the other.
- Vowels A, E, I, O, U are pronounced ah eh ee oh ooh, as in Spanish or Italian.
- R is rolled as in Spanish or Italian.
- SH, pronounced as in wish, is frequently written elsewhere as ?.
- KH is like the ch in Scottish “loch” or Hebrew “Chanukah.” It is often written as ? or ?.
- NG is only found in Sumerian words and is pronounced like the ng in “sing.” It is often written as ?.
- Q is only found in Akkadian words and is pronounced as an aspirated K, or K with a small puff of air after it.
- Some Akkadian vowels are marked with a macron (ā), which means the sound is extended longer than the unmarked vowel (a).
Geography
The ruins of Ur or Urim, which have been extensively excavated by archaeologists, are located at modern Tel Muqayr, Iraq, near the city of Nasiriyah. Ur was a port at the mouth of the Euphrates River around the time of our story, but due to receding sea levels it is currently more than 150 miles from the waters of the nearest ocean (the Persian Gulf). Much of the marshland that formerly covered southern Iraq has been drained by man or disappeared naturally in the four thousand years since the Akkadian Empire. Like most Sumerian cities, Ur was destroyed and rebuilt many times over its long history. It was continuously inhabited for some three millennia, being finally abandoned in the 500s BCE. The Great Ziggurat of Ur at the temple of Nanna, one of the most famous and impressive achievements of Mesopotamian civilization, was not built until several centuries after the time of our story.
The precise location of Akkade, the Akkadian capital founded by Sharru-kin, has been lost. For my own narrative purposes I have followed the popular theory that places it near modern-day Baghdad, along the Tigris some 200 miles north of Urim.
Glossary of Terms, Cities and Gods
Aga
Sumerian. The rolled cloth headdress of a High Priestess.
Akkade
Akkadian. A city founded by Sharru-kin as the capital of his Empire. Birthplace and childhood home of En Kheduana and seat of power for the kings of her family’s dynasty. Its patron deity is the goddess Ishtar.
Akitu
The festival of the New Year, especially associated with Inanna/Ishtar and her consort Dumuzid/Tammuz.
Amagal
Sumerian for “grandmother.”
An
Sumerian, “Heaven” or “Sky.” A powerful elder god, husband of Urash and grandfather of Inanna.
Anunnaki
The primordial gods who dwell in the Underworld.
Billulu
A legendary crone who sheltered the fleeing Dumuzid from the demons who pursued him.
Buranuna
Sumerian name for the Euphrates River.
Dumukir
A Sumerian insult. Literally “son of a hyena”.
Dumuzid
Sumerian, “Good Son.” The young shepherd god who dies and is born again, consort of Inanna.
Eana
“House of Heaven.” The temple of Inanna and An in the city of Unug.
Elam
A foreign land to the East. Like Sumer and Akkad, it is made up of numerous city-states. Its people are called Elamites.
Emengir
The Sumerian name for the Sumerian language (literally “native tongue”).
Emesal
“Fine tongue” or “high-pitched tongue.” A special dialect of Sumerian used only in certain religious songs and by religious orders of women.
En
Sumerian, meaning simply “Lord” or “Master.” A High Priest or Priestess. Also Entu, if female.
Enlil
Sumerian, “Lord Wind.” One of the four ancient gods who created humanity from mud.
Enki
Old god of water and wisdom. One of the four ancient gods who created humanity from mud.
Enkidu
A legendary hirsute wildman, companion of the hero Gilgamesh.
Ensi
Sumerian. A priest-king or (under Sharru-kin’s Empire) priest-governor. The hereditary rulers of some cities, such as Lagash, are styled Ensi rather than the more common Lugal.
Ereshkigal
Sumerian, “Lady of the Great Below.” The fearsome goddess of death, Queen of the Underworld and sister of Inanna and Utu. It is bad luck to speak her name aloud.
Ershemma
Sumerian. A type of funerary song.
Gala, Galaturra
Sumerian. Galaturra is the diminutive/familiar form, “little gala”. Also “menwomen.” Cultic servants of Inanna. Male-bodied but presenting as feminine, they occupy a third gender category.
Gallu
Underworld demons of the desert who pursue Dumuzid in the story of Inanna’s descent to the Underworld.
Gidim
Sumerian. Ghosts.
Gilgamesh
A legendary hero and demigod who ruled Unug (Uruk) in ancient times.
Giparu
Sumerian. The private dwelling of a temple’s High Priestess, set apart from other buildings of the temple complex. It is forbidden for men to enter a giparu.
Gubla
Sumerian name of the city of Byblos in modern Lebanon. A distant country to the West, famous for its lumber, a rare and costly commodity in Sumer.
Guti
An Eastern mountain tribe, distinguished by their fair hair.
House of Dust
One of the poetic names of the Underworld.
House of the Great Light
The Temple of Nanna the Moon God at Urim.
Humbaba
Mythical monster defeated by Gilgamesh.
Iab
Sumerian. Clarified butter, commonly used as an offering.
Idigina
Sumerian name for the Tigris River.
Idiqlat
Akkadian name for the Tigris River.
Inanna
Sumerian, “Queen of Heaven.” The most important goddess of the South. Daughter of Nanna the Moon, sister of Utu the Sun and Ereshkigal the Queen of the Dead. Associated with the planet Venus (the Evening Star) and identified with Akkadian Ishtar.
Ishtar
Akkadian. A war goddess, identified with Venus (the Evening Star) and parallel to Sumerian Inanna. Patron goddess of Sharru-kin and his family and the city of Akkade.
Kabta and Kulla
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Minor Sumerian deities, the gods of bricklaying.
Khulub-tree
Sumerian. A legendary tree inhabited by monsters.
Kish
A Sumerian city where the young Sharru-kin grew up and served as cupbearer to the king. Later, Sharru-kin’s first conquest. Its name is the same in Akkadian and Sumerian.
Kuliltu
Akkadian. A mermaid. Feminine of kulullu.
Lagash
A Sumerian city near Urim and Unug, dedicated to Ningirsu-Ninurta the war god. Unlike many cities, its name is the same in Sumerian and Akkadian.
Lamashtu
Akkadian. A female demon who preys on children and mothers.
Land Between Two Rivers
Refers to the region in present-day Iraq where our story takes place, west of the Tigris River and east of the Euphrates River. The literal translation (in Greek) is Mesopotamia.
Lillitu
Akkadian, “Screech-owl.” Commonly called Lilith in English. A female demon who preys on children.
Lishanum Akkaditum
The Akkadian name for the Akkadian language.
Liyan
A port city in Elam. Its patron goddess is Kiririsha.
Lugal
Sumerian, “Great Man.” The Sumerian term for the hereditary ruler of a city or cities. Under Sharru-kin’s Empire, Lugals who swore fealty to Sharru-kin became governors of their cities rather than kings.
Lullubi
An Eastern mountain tribe. Their men wear long queues.
Mashkim
Sumerian. A stinging fish, envisioned as a malevolent water-demon.
Me
Sumerian, “divine powers” (I’ve also translated it as “shibboleths”). The signs of civilization and culture granted to man by the gods, including all human inventions, offices and behaviors.
Musur
Also “red Musur.” Egypt.
Nanna
Sumerian name for the god of the moon. With his heavenly wife Ningal, Nanna is the father of Inanna (Venus) and Utu (the sun).
Nibru
Sumerian name for the city of Nippur, dedicated to the god Enlil.
Ningishzida
Sumerian, “Lord of the Good Tree.” A god associated with life and death.
Ningal
The divine wife of Nanna, the Sumerian moon god, and mother of the god Utu and goddess Inanna. Her name means simply “Great Lady” or “Great Queen.”
Nin Khursang
Sumerian, “Lady of the Sacred Peak.” A mother goddess associated with fertility and mountains.
Nippur
Akkadian name for the city of Nibru, dedicated to the god Enlil.
Pazuzu
Akkadian. A capricious demon who can protect against other demons.
Purattu
Akkadian name for the Euphrates River.
Re’em
Akkadian. A mythical giant bull.
Sin
Akkadian name for the god of the moon.
Slow River
A poetic name of the Euphrates River.
Swift River
A poetic name of the Tigris River.
Tammuz
Akkadian name for the god the Sumerians call Dumuzid, consort to Ishtar (Sumerian, Inanna).
Tigi
Sumerian. A type of drum.
Unug
A small but ancient Sumerian city near Urim dedicated to the goddess Inanna, former home of the legendary Gilgamesh.
Ur
Akkadian name of the city of Urim.
Urim
A prominent Sumerian port city in the far South. Home of En Kheduana for most of her life. Its patron deity is Nanna, the god of the moon.
Uruk
Akkadian name of the city of Unug.
Utta
Minor Sumerian deity, the goddess of weaving.
Utukku
Akkadian. A race of demons.
Zirru
Sumerian. A priestess.
Index of Persons
Names in bold are real historical figures. Names not in bold are characters of my own invention. Characters known by a religious or royal title (En, Ensi, Lugal) are listed alphabetically by their name with their title in parentheses. Thus En Kheduana is listed under K as (En) Kheduana.
Adda
Enheduanna’s High Steward after the death of Dubsang.
(Lugal) Anna
Sumerian, “Tin” or “Lead.” Son of Melemanna. Self-proclaimed ruler of Unug and leader of a rebellion after the death of Manishtushu.
Baramu
Akkadian, “Many-Colored.” Suitor to the Princess Khedutum, the young En Kheduana, in Akkade.
Baranamtarra
A priestess of Nanna. Mistress of Litanies in Nanna’s Temple at Urim.
Dubsang
High Steward to Enheduanna in the early years of her Enship.
Elamitu
Akkadian and Sumerian, “Elamite Woman”. A slave woman of Elamite origin, given to Enheduanna by her father as a wedding gift.
(En) Galusakar
Sumerian, “Great Crescent.” High Priestess of Nanna at Urim before Enheduanna. Great-aunt of Lugal Kaku.
Garashang
Sumerian, “Leek.” A galaturra or manwoman of Inanna, later High Priestess of the Temple of Inanna and An at Unug.
Ibarum
Akkadian, “Friend.” Third son of Sharru-kin and Tashlultum. Younger brother of Rimush, Manishtushu and Enheduanna, elder brother of Ilaba’ish-takal. Later known by his sacerdotal name of Shu-Enlil.
Ilaba’ish-takal
Akkadian, “Trusting in [the god] Ilaba.” Also called Ilaba. Fourth son of Sharru-kin and Tashlultum. Youngest brother of Rimush, Manishtushu and Enheduanna.
Igiru
Akkadian and Sumerian, “Heron.” A slave woman originally of Urim, given to Enheduanna by her father as a wedding gift.
Ilum Palilis
Enheduanna’s chief hairdresser after the departure of Zumbu.
Inanna-shudug
Sumerian, “The Touch of Inanna.” A galaturra or manwoman of Inanna.
(Lugal) Kaku
Ruler of Urim and vassal of Sharru-kin. Great-nephew of En Galusakar.
Kankala
Sumerian, “Perfume.” A galaturra or manwoman of Inanna.
(En) Kheduana
Sumerian, “High Priestess Jewel of Heaven.” High Priestess of Nanna at Urim. Born Khedutum, only daughter of Sharru-kin and princess of his Empire. Sister of Rimush, Manishtushu, Ibarum and Ilaba’ish-takal, aunt of Naram-Sin, great-aunt of Enmenanna.
Khedutum
Akkadian, “Joy.” Also Khedu. Birth-name of Enheduanna.
(Ensi) Kikuid
Ruler of Lagash and vassal of Sharru-kin. Close ally of Lugal Kaku.
Kug-Bau
A semi-legendary historical figure, the only woman in the Sumerian King List document. An alewife or brothel-keeper who rose to become queen regnant of Kish. Grandmother of Ur-Zababa.
Lulakhtanakh
A priest of Nanna in the temple of Urim, head of the Men’s Tablet House.
Manishtushu
Akkadian, “He Who Is With Him.” Also Manish. Second-born son of Sharru-kin. Twin of Rimush, elder brother of Khedutum, Ibarum and Ilaba-ish-takal.
(Lugal) Melemanna
The Lugal of Unug and father of Lugal Anna. Died in the labor camps established by King Rimush in retribution for the uprising of Unug, Urim and Lagash.
(En) Menanna
Sumerian, “High Priestess Silence of the Moon.” Enheduanna’s successor as High Priestess of the Moon at Urim. Born Tanittu-Kullatu, daughter of Naram-Sin, grandniece of Enheduanna and her brothers, great-granddaughter of Sharru-kin.
Naram-Sin
Akkadian, “Beloved of the Moon.” Son and heir of Manishtushu, grandson of Sharru-kin, nephew of Enheduanna.
Ningtuku
A priest of Nanna in the temple at Urim, head of En Kheduana’s libation priests. Elder brother of Sagadu.
Ninninnata
Sumerian, “Harrier Hawk.” A widow and potter of Urim who shelters En Kheduana. Mother of Shulgi and Urun.
Puabi
Akkadian, “Word of My Father.” A priestess and/or queen of Urim (despite her Northern origins) hundreds of years before the events of our story. Her tomb in the Royal Cemetery of Ur is known for its riches and for the great number of ladies-in-waiting who died with her.
Rimush
The eldest son and heir of Sharru-kin. Twin of Manishtushu, elder brother of Khedutum, Ibarum and Ilaba’ish-takal.
Sagadu
Chief Scribe to Enheduanna. Younger brother of Ningtuku.
Sharru-kin
Akkadian, “True King.” Commonly known in English as Sargon. Conqueror of all Mesopotamia and founder of an Empire. Husband of Tashlultum, father of Rimush, Manishtushu, Kheduana, Ibarum, and Ilaba’ish-takal. Styled King of the World.
Shuba
Sumerian, “Many-Colored.” An apprentice to the Metalworkers of the House of the Great Light in Urim, lover of Zumbu.
Shulgi
A young boy of Urim, son of Ninninnata and younger brother of Urun.
Tashlultum
Akkadian, “I Took Her As Plunder.” Sumerian-born widow of Lugal Zagesi, queen of Sharru-kin. By Sharru-kin, mother of Rimush, Manishtushu, Enheduanna, Ibarum, and Ilaba’ish-takal.
(Ensi) Tuge
Ensi of Lagash during the time of Lugal Anna’s rebellion.
Ugunu
A priestess of Nanna in the temple of Urim, head of the Women’s Tablet House.
(Lugal) Ur-Zababa
Aged king of the Sumerian city of Kish, overthrown by his former cupbearer, the youth Sharru-kin.
Urun
A young boy of Urim, son of Ninninnata and elder brother of Shulgi.
(Lugal) Zagesi
Ruler of several Sumerian cities. Last great rival of Sharru-kin, first husband of Tashlultum.
Zumbu
Akkadian, “Mosquito.” A slave woman of Akkadian origin, given to Enheduanna by her father as a wedding gift.
En Kheduana, more commonly spelled in English as Enheduanna, lived in the 23rd centuries BCE, or about four thousand years ago, in modern-day Iraq. She is the first author in world history whose name is known, because she is also the first author in world history known to have signed their work, and to have written in the first person. The sacred songs she composed, in particular the 153-line “Exaltation of Inanna” (Nin me sharra) express a remarkable degree of personalized emotion that carry through centuries of time. That her words hold such power after so many years is a testament to Enheduanna’s skill as a poet, and to her unshakable faith in the goddess to whom she ascribed all her triumphs, despite her being High Priestess of a different deity.
Enheduanna’s father Sharru-kin (better known as Sargon) is credited with some remarkable firsts himself, as he created what is sometimes called the first multicultural Empire by uniting his Semitic Akkadian people of northern Mesopotamia with the non-Semitic Sumerians of the south. The Akkadian Empire of Mesopotamia lasted approximately 150 years, ultimately collapsing in the reign of Sargon’s great-great grandson. Gradually over the next several centuries, the intermarried Akkadians and Sumerians would diverge into two new nationalities: the Assyrians and Babylonians, each speaking their own Akkadian-derived dialect. The Sumerian language was preserved for literary and religious purposes long after it ceased to be spoken, much like Latin in later Western tradition.
Enheduanna died during the reign of her nephew Naram-Sin (the exact length of her life is uncertain; I have given her 40 years as En). She was succeeded as En by her great-niece, Naram-Sin’s daughter, who we know by her sacerdotal name En Me-Nanna (Enmenanna). The tradition established by Sharru-kin of making a daughter or sister of the king High Priestess of the Moon at Ur would last for thousands of years, and there is evidence that some prominent former Ens, including Enheduanna, became deified after their deaths and had hymns and offerings dedicated to them by their successors.
The temple complex at Ur, including the giparu where the women of the temple lived, has been extensively excavated by archaeologists. It was destroyed and rebuilt countless times before finally being abandoned in the 6th century BCE.
There was no such thing as the secular in Mesopotamian society. The gods and their functionaries were deeply ingrained in every aspect of life, from kingship to economics and agriculture. Though taking religious orders usually required celibacy, it granted Mesopotamian women the highest level of independence and power possible in their society. The various En priestesses who served after Enheduanna performed diverse functions outside their priestly duties, serving as commissioners of buildings, curators of museums and mistresses of schools.
Part of the fun in writing about someone who lived so long ago is the amount of freedom I have as a storyteller to fill in the gaps in our historical knowledge. I have tried to stay true to the spirit of Enheduanna’s own writing and to follow to the letter what historical facts are available, but I have had to infer and take a lot of liberties due to a dearth of concrete information. For example, though I am not the first to suggest that Rimush and Manishtushu were twins, or that Manishtushu had a hand in his brother’s death, this is not explicitly confirmed in existing sources.
There are strong suggestions that Inanna had a class of followers who occupied a third gender category, but precious little that describes their appearance and lifestyle. My depiction of the galaturra is based mainly on similar third-gendered groups in other cultures, such as the Cybele-worshipping galli of Anatolia in Roman times and the hijra of South Asia, who still exist today. The history of the Akkadian Empire and its line of succession, the mythology, the meanings of names, quotes from the original literature, and many other details presented in this narrative are to the best of my knowledge authentic. Other details, such as Enheduanna’s personal life and the exact circumstances of her exile and return to power, are my own invention.
The Mesopotamia of four thousand years ago, with its expansive marshes that have long-since dried and its mighty pyramided city-states that have long-since collapsed into dust, was a landscape at once alien and strangely familiar. These long-ago people with their long, unfamiliar names gave the world the wheel, the first formal law codes and education systems, as well as written works that range from economic records to parables, from love songs and satire to laments for fallen kings and prayers to thunderous gods. Much of their writing has fortunately survived and been translated, and those modern readers who seek out Enheduanna’s and other Mesopotamian works will find no shortage of variety and no dearth of emotion. If you want to gain an insight into their distant world, there is no substitute for reading the words of the Sumerians and Akkadians themselves. I recommend the following authors to anyone wishing to learn more about the Sumerians, the Akkadians, and the family that for a time united them:
Benjamin Foster
Jacob Black
Samuel Noah Kramer
Thorkild Jacobsen
Diane Wolkstein
Online: The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (run by Oxford University)