Ancient Goddesses in New York

About "She Who Wrote: Enheduanna and the Women of Ancient Mesopotamia"

This wonderful exhibit took visitors on a beautiful journey into the world of the most important ancient societies. It was filled with goddesses, priestesses, and queens. It was years in the making and brought together ancient artifacts and statues from many different museums. It also enlightened visitors to the existence of Enheduanna and her very important role in our ancient world.

Enheduanna walked the earth over 4,000 years ago yet left a lasting impact on history, and the history of writing. She is both a historical and spiritual figure who lived in ancient Mesopotamia.

Known as a priestess, princess, and poet, she is hailed as one of the first known authors. Her bestsellers were literally written in stone. Her works were created in cuneiform on clay tablets that were baked to dry. At a time way before the holy books we know of today, she told the story of love, war, worship, and of the goddess of her heart, Inanna. While some of her writings may be seen as accounts of mythical deities, her hymns were written for the culture and the period she lived in, and they were meant to be used in ceremonies and to tell religious stories.

Her writing, which is passionate and bold, also speaks of her own experience - both her longing for her beloved goddess, Inanna, and her pleasures and difficulties. Some of her writing seems like an entreaty to the gods, and sometimes it seems like a diary entry providing a window into her soul, her anguish, and her interpretation of the role of the Divine figures of the day in the challenges her society faced. Her role as the world's first author and the first female poet was discovered because she signed her name, or mentioned herself, in the text.

She played an important role in ancient civilization and was a leader of women who guided other priestesses in their spiritual duties.

Because of her writing prowess, she has gained the modern nickname of the "Sumerian Shakespeare."

- Laurie Sue Brockway

Sources

"She Who Wrote: Enheduanna and Women of Mesopotamia, Ca. 3400–2000 B.C.," The Morgan Library & Museum, October 6, 2022, https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/she-who-wrote.

Photo captions:

"Cylinder Seal with Ishtar Holding a Weapon; Deities Engaging in Combat," The Morgan Library & Museum, October 10, 2022, https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/she-who-wrote/cylinder-seal-ishtar.

"Disk of Enheduanna," The Morgan Library & Museum, October 8, 2022, https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/she-who-wrote/disk-enheduanna.

"Fragment of a Vessel with Frontal Image of Goddess," The Morgan Library & Museum, October 7, 2022, https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/she-who-wrote/fragment-vessel.

"Mold Fragment with Deified Ruler and Ishtar," The Morgan Library & Museum, October 10, 2022, https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/she-who-wrote/mold-fragment-ishtar.

"Queen Puabi's Funerary Ensemble," The Morgan Library & Museum, October 8, 2022, https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/she-who-wrote/queen-puabis-funerary-ensemble.

"Seated Female Figure with Tablet on Lap," The Morgan Library & Museum, October 8, 2022, https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/she-who-wrote/seated-female-figure-tablet.

"Standing Female Figure with Clasped Hands," The Morgan Library & Museum, October 7, 2022, https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/she-who-wrote/standing-female-figure-clasped-hands.

"Vessel with Faces of Female Deities," The Morgan Library & Museum, October 7, 2022, https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/online/she-who-wrote/vessel-female-deities.

Enheduanna and Inanna Exhibit

The Disc of Enheduanna

High Priestess

Seated Female Tablet On Lap most likely represents a High Priestess

An Online Guide to Discovering the Sacred Feminine in
Museums, Temples, and Public Places

About "She Who Wrote: Enheduanna and the Women of Ancient Mesopotamia"

Sources

Enheduanna and Inanna Exhibit

The Disc of Enheduanna

High Priestess

Mesopotamian Goddess

Goddess Ishtar

Goddess Vase

The Exaltation of Inanna by Enheduanna

Ishtar Cylinder Seal

Praying Woman

Praying Woman

A Queen's Funerary Ensemble

Inside This Exhibit

Welcome

Goddess History in New York

Goddesses in NY Museums

The Goddess and Her Many Forms

International Goddesses in NY

Athena-Minerva Has a Monumental Presence

Goddess Monuments, Landmarks, and Historical Places

Goddess Sightings

Visiting Goddessess

Holy Mothers

Goddesses in the Archives

Final Thoughts

Links of Interest