TED-Ed: Who was the world's first author? - Soraya Field Fiorio

Enheduanna, the first known author, was a high priestess in ancient Sumer. She wrote 42 hymns and 3 epic poems, bridging Sumerian and Akkadian cultures. Her works humanized gods and introduced personal expression in writing. Exiled after her father's death, she was later restored to power. Her legacy influenced religious texts and literature for centuries.

Who was Enheduanna's father, and what was his significance?

• King Nebuchadnezzar, the builder of Babylon

• King Gilgamesh, the legendary hero

• King Hammurabi, the lawgiver

• King Sargon the Great, the first empire builder

What was the primary purpose of Enheduanna's hymns?

• To teach mathematics

• To entertain the masses

• To unify Sumerian and Akkadian cultures

• To record historical events

Which goddess did Enheduanna place at the top of the pantheon?

• Ishtar

• Inanna

• Ninhursag

• Ereshkigal

What marked the first use of writing to explore personal emotions?

• Enheduanna's odes to Inanna

• The Code of Hammurabi

• Enheduanna's hymns to the Moon God

• The Epic of Gilgamesh

What happened to Enheduanna after the death of her father?

• She became the queen of Ur

• She was exiled by a general

• She was captured by foreign invaders

• She retired to a life of solitude