Enheduanna: The World's First Author

Enheduanna: The World's First Author

It's hard to imagine a time when we didn't write things down- on stone, papyrus or parchment. Who was the first to actually put 'pen to paper' and write. Well, her name was Enheduanna. She was an Akkadian poet, writer and high priestess, remembered as the first named author in recorded history. She lived in the 3rd millennium BCE in the city-state of Ur, and was a figure of immense significance in the Mesopotamian world. As the high priestess of the moon god Nanna, she would help to cement ties between the newly merged Sumerian and Akkadian civilisations. She would also pen the first authored literary works, and her poems on womanhood and faith hold great meaning through to this day. Dan speaks to Sidney Babcock, the Jeannette and Jonathan Rosen Curator at the Morgan Library and Museum, to find out how we know so much about her, and what her significance is today.


Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.


If you'd like to learn more, we have hundreds of history documentaries, ad-free podcasts and audiobooks at History Hit - subscribe to History Hit today!


Download the History Hit app from the Google Play store.

Download the History Hit app from the Apple Store.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avsnitt(1493)

Is James I an Underrated King?

Is James I an Underrated King?

We dive into the reign of the first Stuart monarch of England, his political savvy, and the controversies that shaped his rule. From the Gunpowder Plot to the King James Bible, we ask whether history ...

24 Juli 202536min

War of the Worlds: Orson Welles' Alien Invasion Hoax

War of the Worlds: Orson Welles' Alien Invasion Hoax

In 1938, Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds radio broadcast stunned America. It was a defining moment in broadcast history - reports claimed it caused mass panic, with listeners believing Martians had tr...

22 Juli 202540min

Pirates: The Pirate Hunts

Pirates: The Pirate Hunts

As the Golden Age of Piracy drew to a close, the oceans turned into hunting grounds where pirates became prey. Dan tells the dramatic tale of the rise and fall of Bartholomew Roberts, or Black Bart, o...

20 Juli 202531min

How did the Colonies win the American War of Independence?

How did the Colonies win the American War of Independence?

In 1775, American revolutionaries went to war with the British. Seeking independence from colonial ties, they fought more than 150 battles over eight years.How did a relatively new nation of just 2.5 ...

17 Juli 202550min

Christopher Wren

Christopher Wren

Architect, astronomer, anatomist, and genius who rebuilt London after the Great Fire —Christopher Wren. His life is nothing short of extraordinary. In this episode, Dan is joined by historian and cons...

15 Juli 202545min

Pirates: Barbary Corsairs & The Bombardment of Algiers

Pirates: Barbary Corsairs & The Bombardment of Algiers

For centuries, the Barbary Corsairs captured ships and enslaved European Christians, turning the Mediterranean into a sea of fear and ransom. Backed by the rulers of Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, the c...

13 Juli 202528min

Boudicca: Myths vs Reality

Boudicca: Myths vs Reality

Boudicca, the warrior queen of the Iceni tribe, has become a symbol of resistance and British defiance. But what do we really know about her, and her bloody revolt against Roman rule? Dr Shushma Malik...

10 Juli 202531min

Why Do Empires Fall?

Why Do Empires Fall?

For centuries, the Roman Empire commanded unparalleled control over the world around it. It expanded its borders through trade and conquest, sucking resources from the periphery into its thriving cent...

8 Juli 202542min

Populärt inom Historia

motiv
kod-katastrof
massmordarpodden
historiska-brott
p3-historia
historiepodden-se
rss-historien-om
olosta-mord
historianu-med-urban-lindstedt
rss-brottsligt
rss-seriemordarpodden
krigshistoriepodden
rss-massmordarpodden
palmemordet
rss-arkiv-stieg
militarhistoriepodden
nu-blir-det-historia
rss-borgvattnets-hemligheter
rss-folkets-historia
harrisons-dramatiska-historia