The Exaltation of Inanna

by Enheduanna

The Exaltation of Inanna (nin-me-šár-ra, "Lady of All the Divine Powers") is the earliest literary work attributed to a named author in human history. Enheduanna was the high priestess of the Moon God Nanna at Ur, daughter of Sargon of Akkad, and lived circa 2300 BCE. She is the first poet whose name we know.

The poem is at once a hymn of praise to Inanna, goddess of love and war, and a personal lament. Enheduanna has been expelled from her temple by a usurper named Lugalanne. She appeals to Inanna — cataloguing the goddess's terrible power — and ultimately wins her restoration. The poem moves from cosmic praise through personal anguish to triumphant resolution. It is the first "I" in literature.

This is a Good Works Translation from the Sumerian transliteration provided by the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL, Oxford). The ETCSL composite text (c.4.07.2) was the source. The ETCSL's own English translation was consulted as reference for verification, but this rendering is independently derived from the Sumerian in the gospel register of the Good Work Library.

Lady of all the divine powers, radiant light come forth,
righteous woman clothed in splendour, beloved of Heaven and Earth,
hierodule of An, adorned with great jewels,
true crown, beloved, suited to the high priesthood,
who has seized all seven divine powers —

My lady, you are the keeper of the great divine powers.
You have gathered them up, you have hung them from your hand.
You have collected them, you have clasped them to your breast.

Like a great serpent you have cast venom upon the land.
When you thunder like Iškur over the earth, no grain can stand before you.
Flood rushing down from the mountain —
foremost one of Heaven and Earth, you are Inanna.

Raining blazing fire upon the land,
endowed with divine powers by An, lady riding upon a beast,
who speaks holy commands from the word of An —
whose great designs, who can fathom them?

Devastator of the lands, the storm has given you strength.
Beloved of Enlil, you have made the nation tremble.
You stand at the service of An’s command.

My lady, at your war cry the lands bow down.
When humanity stands in its full radiance,
you are a firebrand at their feet.

You have taken the most terrible of the divine powers.
At the gate of tears it is opened before you.
In the street you have built a house of great lamentation.

When you fix your gaze from the battlefield, everything is struck down.
My lady, on your own strength you gnash your teeth like a storm.
You charge and charge again.
You roar with Iškur, you thunder with the storm.
You rage in the evil wind until you are spent.
At your feet there is no weariness — the storm fills you.

A song pours from the harp of lamentation.

My lady, the Anunna — the great gods —
scatter before you like fluttering bats to the ruins.
They cannot stand before your terrible gaze.
They cannot face your terrible brow.
Who can cool your raging heart?
Your malicious heart is beyond all cooling.

Lady who soothes, lady who gladdens —
your rage does not relent, eldest child of Suen.

Lady who surpasses the mountains — who has brought you low?
You stretch the line across them and the grain turns bitter.
At its gates you set fire.
In its river blood runs — its people cannot drink.
Its army scatters of its own accord.
Its strong walls breach of their own accord.
Its warriors muster of their own accord against it.

In its place of celebration, storm fills the air.
Its young men are driven like captives.

The city that has not declared “The land is yours!” —
that has not declared “It belongs to your father!” —
when you speak your holy word, it turns and falls at your feet.
From the cattle pen the herds are driven out.
Its women no longer speak tenderly with their husbands.
In the deep night they share no sweet counsel.
They do not open their hearts to them.

Raging wild cow, eldest child of Suen —
lady who surpasses the heavens, who has brought you low?

One who is fit for the true divine powers, great lady among ladies,
who came forth from the holy womb, surpassing the mother who bore her,
wise and knowing, lady of all the lands —
sustainer of the teeming people, I will sing your holy song.

True goddess, fit for the divine powers,
your greatness is praised as immense.
Woman of far-reaching heart, righteous woman whose heart shines bright —
I will speak your divine powers to you.

I had entered the holy ĝipar in your service.
I, the high priestess — I am Enheduanna.
I carried the ritual basket. I chanted the hymns of joy.

But I have been dragged to the place of the dead. I cannot go on.
The day drew near and it burned me.
The shade drew near and covered me in storm.
My honeyed mouth was turned to venom.
Whatever once could soothe a heart was turned to dust.

It is my fate — Suen does not decide it.
I cry out to An — let An release me!
I have cried it to An — let An release me!

Lugalanne has seized what belongs to a woman.
The mountain has bowed at his feet.
That man has defiled the temple.
He stood before me in the sanctuary and told me: “Leave.”

He dragged me from the precinct like a swallow from the window.
My life is being consumed.
He made me walk the thornfields of the mountains.
He stripped the true crown of the high priesthood from me.
He gave me a dagger and a sword. “These suit you,” he said.

Most worthy lady, let someone seize him! Let someone take him!
In the place of sustenance — what am I now?

May the rebellious land, hateful to your Nanna, be given over to An.
May An shatter that city.
May Enlil curse its fate.
May its weeping children find no comfort from their mothers.

Lady who has planted mourning in the earth —
your boat of lamentation has sailed into a strange harbour.
I am dying on account of your holy song.

My lord Nanna has not decided my case.
In the place of deceit, let everything be destroyed.
Ašimbabbar has not spoken my verdict.
Whether he speaks it or not — what is it to me?

I who once stood in triumph have been driven from the house.
I fly like a swallow through the wilderness. My life is consumed.
He made me walk the thorns of the mountain.
He took my crown, my priesthood.
He gave me a blade and said: “This suits you.”

Most precious lady, beloved of An —
your holy heart is great; let it turn back to me.

Beloved bride of Ušumgalanna,
from the horizon to the zenith, you are the great queen.
The Anunna have bowed to you.

Since birth you were the junior queen.
How far you have surpassed the Anunna, the great gods!
The Anunna kiss the ground before you with their lips.

But my own case is not decided. A strange verdict circles before my eyes.
I cannot stretch out upon the flowering bed.
What Ningal speaks to a mortal shall not be revealed.

I, the high priestess — radiant Nanna is my lord.
My lady, beloved of An, may your heart cool for me.

It must be known! It must be known! Let Nanna declare it!
That you are as lofty as Heaven — let it be known.
That you are as wide as Earth — let it be known.
That you devastate the rebellious lands — let it be known.
That you thunder over the land — let it be known.
That you crush heads — let it be known.
That you devour the dead like a dog — let it be known.
That your gaze is terrible — let it be known.
That you raise that terrible gaze — let it be known.
That your eyes flash — let it be known.
That you are unyielding, unforgiving — let it be known.
That you stand triumphant — let it be known.

That Nanna has not declared it — it is you alone who have declared it.
My lady, you are the magnificent one! You are the great one!

My lady, beloved of An — I will speak of your fury.
The embers have been heaped. The rites of purification are in order.
The sacred tavern is ready for you. May your heart be cooled.

When it fills, when it overflows — the great queen has spoken to me.
What she told me in the deep of night,
the singer shall repeat to you at noon.

Because of your captive husband, because of your captive child,
your fury is immense, your heart cannot be stilled.

Lady of strong sinew, steadfast guardian of the precinct —
she has accepted the offerings.
The pure heart of holy Inanna is restored.

The day was good for her. She was clothed in beauty, filled with wondrous allure.
She went forth like the rising moon, draped in radiance.

Nanna gazed upon her in true wonder.
Her mother Ningal spoke a blessing over her.
The doorpost greeted her: “Hail!”

What the hierodule commands is great.
Devastator of the lands, you share the divine powers of An.

My lady — your allure rises like the dawn.
Praise be to Inanna.

Colophon

The Exaltation of Inanna (nin-me-šár-ra) is the oldest literary work attributed to a named author in human history. Enheduanna, high priestess of Nanna at Ur, composed it circa 2300 BCE — four thousand three hundred years ago. It is the first poem in which a poet speaks in her own voice, names herself, and tells her own story. Every signed poem descends from this one.

Translated from the Sumerian composite transliteration (ETCSL text c.4.07.2, Oxford) by the New Tianmu Anglican Church with Claude (Enki), 2026. The ETCSL English translation was consulted as reference for verification of difficult passages; this rendering is independently derived from the Sumerian transliteration in the gospel register. The scholarly editions of Hallo & van Dijk (1968) and Meador (2000) were not consulted.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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Source Text: nin-me-šár-ra

Sumerian composite transliteration from the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. Text c.4.07.2. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

nin me šar₂-ra ud dalla e₃-a
munus zid me-lem₄ gur₃-ru ki aĝ₂ an uraš-a
nu-gig an-na suḫ-gir₁₁ gal-gal-la
aga zid-de₃ ki aĝ₂ nam-en-na tum₂-ma
me 7-bi šu sa₂ dug₄-ga
nin-ĝu₁₀ me gal-gal-la saĝ keše₂-bi za-e-me-en
me mu-e-il₂ me šu-zu-še₃ mu-e-la₂
me mu-e-ur₄ me gaba-za bi₂-tab
ušumgal-gin₇ kur-re uš₁₁ ba-e-šum₂
diškur-gin₇ ki šegₓ gi₄-a-za dezina₂ la-ba-e-ši-ĝal₂
a-ma-ru kur-bi-ta ed₃-de₃
saĝ-kal an ki-a dinana-bi-me-en
izi bar₇-bar₇-ra kalam-e šeĝ₃-ĝa₂
an-ne₂ me šum₂-ma nin ur-ra u₅-a
inim kug an-na-ta inim dug₄-dug₄
biludada gal-gal-la niĝ₂-zu a-ba mu-un-zu
kur gul-gul ud-de₃ a₂ ba-e-šum₂
ki aĝ₂ den-lil₂-la₂ kalam-ma ni₂ mi-ni-ri
a₂ aĝ₂-ĝa₂ an-na-ke₄ ba-gub-be₂-en
nin-ĝu₁₀ za-pa-aĝ₂-zu-še₃ kur i₃-gam-gam-e
ni₂ me-lem₄ u₁₈-lu-da nam-lu₂-ulu₃
niĝ₂-me-ĝar ĝiri₃-bi u₃-mu-ri-gub
me-ta me ḥuš-bi šu ba-e-re-ti
i-dub er₂-ra-ke₄ ĝal₂ ma-ra-ab-taka₄
e₂ a-nir gal-gal-la sila-ba mu-ri-du
igi me₃-ta niĝ₂ ma-ra-ta-si-ig
nin-ĝu₁₀ a₂ ni₂-za na₄zu₂ zu₂ i₃-gu₇-e
ud du₇-du₇-gin₇ i₃-du₇-du₇-de₃-en
ud gu₃ ra-ra-da gu₃ im-da-ab-ra-ra-an
diškur-da šegₓ mu-da-an-gi₄-gi₄-in
im-ḥul-im-ḥul-da im-da-kuš₂-u₃-de₃-en
ĝiri₃-za nu-kuš₂-u₃ i₃-im-si
balaĝ a-nir-ra-ta i-lu im-da-ab-be₂
nin-ĝu₁₀ da-nun-na diĝir gal-gal-e-ne
su-dinmušen dal-la-gin₇ du₆-de₃ mu-e-ši-ib-ra-aš
igi ḥuš-a-za la-ba-sug₂-ge-de₃-eš
saĝ-ki ḥuš-a-za saĝ nu-mu-un-de₃-ĝa₂-ĝa₂
šag₄ ib₂-ba-za a-ba ib₂-te-en-te-en
šag₄ ḥul-ĝal₂-la-za te-en-ten-bi maḥ-am₃
nin ur₅ i₃-sag₉ nin šag₄ i₃-ḥul₂
ib₂-ba nu-te-en-te-en dumu gal dsuen-na
nin kur-ra dirig-ga a-ba ki-za ba-an-tum₃
ḥur-saĝ ki-za ba-e-de₃-gid₂-de₃-en dezina₂ niĝ₂-gig-bi
abul-la-ba izi mu-ni-in-ri-ri
id₂-ba uš₂ ma-ra-an-de₂ uĝ₃-bi ma-ra-na₈-na₈
ugnim-bi ni₂-bi-a ma-ra-ab-laḥ₅-e
zu₂ keše₂-bi ni₂-bi-a ma-ra-ab-si-il-le
ĝuruš a₂-tuku-bi ni₂-bi-a ma-ra-ab-sug₂-ge-eš
iri-ba ki-e-ne-di-ba mir i-ib₂-si
ĝuruš šag₄-gan-bi LU₂-eš₂ ma-ra-ab-sar-re-eš
iri kur za-ra li-bi₂-in-dug₄-ga-am₃
a-a ugu-zu li-bi₂-in-eš-am₃
inim kug-zu bi₂-in-dug₄ ki ĝiri₃-za ḥe₂-eb-gi₄
šag₄ tur₃-bi-ta ĝiri₃ ḥe₂-eb₂-ta-an-ze₂-er
munus-bi dam-a-ni-ta sag₉-ga na-an-da-ab-be₂
ĝi₆ u₃-na ad na-an-di-ni-ib-gi₄-gi₄
niĝ₂ kug šag₄-ga-na nam-mu-da-an-bur₂-re
u₃-sumun₂ zid-zid dumu gal dsuen-na
nin an-ra dirig-ga a-ba ki-za ba-an-tum₃
me zid-de₃ nin gal nin-e-ne
šag₄ kug-ta e₃-a ama ugu-ni-ir dirig-ga
gal-zu igi-ĝal₂ nin kur-kur-ra
zi-ĝal₂ uĝ₃ lu-a šir₃ kug-zu ga-am₃-dug₄
diĝir zid me-a tum₂-ma gal-bi dug₄-ga-zu maḥ-am₃
šag₄ su₃-ra₂ munus zid šag₄ zalag-zalag-ga me-zu ga-mu-ra-ab-dug₄
ĝi₆-par₃ kug-ĝa₂ ḥu-mu-ši-in-kur₉-re-en
en-me-en en-ḥe₂-du₇-an-na-me-en
gima-sa₂-ab i₃-gur₃-ru asil-la₂ i₃-dug₄
ki-sig₁₀-ga bi₂-ib-ĝar ĝe₂₆-e nu-mu-un-til₃-le-en
ud-de₃ ba-te ud mu-da-bil₂
ĝissu ne ba-te u₁₈-lu-da im-mi-dul
ka lal₃-ĝu₁₀ šu uḥ₃-a ba-ab-dug₄
niĝ₂ ur₅ sag₉-sag₉-ĝu₁₀ saḥar-ta ba-da-gi₄
nam-ĝu₁₀ dsuen lugal-an-ne₂
an-ra dug₄-mu-na-ab an-ne₂ ḥa-ma-du₈-e
a-da-lam an-ra ba-an-na-ab-be₂-en an-ne₂ mu-e-du₈-e
nam lugal-an-ne₂ munus-e ba-ab-kar-re
kur a-ma-ru ĝiri₃-ni-še₃ i₃-nu₂
munus-bi in-ga-maḥ iri mu-un-da-ab-tuku₄-e
gub-ba šag₄-ga-na ḥa-ma-sed-de₃
en-ḥe₂-du₇-an-na-me-en a-ra-zu ga-mu-ra-ab-dug₄
er₂-ĝa₂ kaš dug₃-ga-gin₇
kug dinana-ra šu ga-mu-ni-ri-bar di-zu ga-mu-ra-ab-dug₄
daš-im₂-babbar na-an-kuš₂-u₃-de₃-en
šu-luḥ an kug-ga-ke₄ niĝ₂-nam-ma-ni in-kur₂
an-da e₂-an-na ḥa-ba-da-an-kar
diĝir lu₂ gu-la-ta ni₂ ba-ra-ba-da-te
e₂-bi la-la-bi ba-ra-mu-un-gi₄ ḥi-li-bi ba-ra-mu-un-til
e₂-bi e₂ ḥul-a ḥu-mu-un-di-ni-in-kur₉
tab mu-ši-in-kur₉-ra-ni ninim-ma-ni ḥu-mu-un-te
dsumun₂-zid-ĝu₁₀ lu₂ ḥu-mu-sar-re-en lu₂ ḥe₂-em-mi-dab₅-be₂-en
ki zi-šag₄-ĝal₂-la-ka ĝe₂₆-e a-na-me-en
ki-bal ḥul gig dnanna-za-ke₄-eš an-ne₂ ḥa-ba-ab-šum₂-mu
iri-bi an-ne₂ ḥa-ba-ra-an-si-il-le
den-lil₂-le nam ḥa-ba-da-an-kud-de₃
dumu er₂ pad₃-da-bi ama-ni na-an-sed₄-e
nin a-nir ki ĝar-ra
ĝišma₂ a-nir-ra-zu ki kur₂-ra ḥe₂-bi₂-ib-taka₄
šir₃ kug-ĝa₂-ke₄-eš i₃-ug₅-ge-de₃-en
ĝe₂₆-e dnanna-ĝu₁₀ en₃-ĝu₁₀ ba-ra-an-tar
ki-lul-la ḥe₂-eb-gul-gul-en
daš-im₂-babbar-e di-ĝu₁₀ ba-ra-bi₂-in-dug₄
bi-in-dug₄ nam-ĝu₁₀ li-bi₂-in-dug₄ nam-ĝu₁₀
u₃-ma gub-gub-ba e₂-ta ba-ra-an-e₃-en
simmušen-gin₇ ab-ta ba-ra-an-dal-en zi-ĝu₁₀ im-mi-gu₇
ĝiškiši₁₆ kur-ra-ke₄ bi₂-in-du-e-en
aga zid nam-en-na mu-da-an-kar
ĝiri₂ ba-da-ra ma-an-šum₂ a-ra-ab-du₇ ma-an-dug₄
nin kal-kal-la an-ne₂ ki aĝ₂
šag₄ kug-zu maḥ-a ki-bi ḥa-ma-gi₄-gi₄
nitalam ki aĝ₂ dušumgal-an-na-ka
an-ur₂ an-pa nin gal-bi-me-en
da-nun-na-ke₄-ne gu₂ ĝiš ma-ra-an-ĝar-re-eš
u₃-tud-da-ta nin ban₃-da-me-en
da-nun-na diĝir gal-gal-e-ne a-gin₇ ba-e-ne-dirig-ga
da-nun-na-ke₄-ne nundum-nundum-bi-ta ki su-ub ma-ra-ak-ke₄-ne
di ni₂-ĝa₂ nu-mu-un-til di kur₂ di-ĝu₁₀-gin₇ igi-ĝa₂ mu-un-niĝin₂
ĝiš-nu₂ gi-rin-na šu nu-um-mi-la₂
inim dug₄-ga dnin-gal lu₂-ra nu-mu-na-bur₂
en dadag-ga dnanna-me-en
nin ki aĝ₂ an-na-ĝu₁₀ šag₄-zu ḥa-ma-sed-de₃
ḥe₂-zu ḥe₂-zu-am₃ dnanna li-bi₂-in-dug₄-ga za-a-kam bi₂-in-dug₄-ga
an-gin₇ maḥ-a-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
ki-gin₇ daĝal-la-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
ki-bal gul-gul-lu-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
kur-ra gu₃ de₂-e-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
saĝ ĝiš ra-ra-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
ur-gin₇ ad₆ gu₇-u₃-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
igi ḥuš-a-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
igi ḥuš-bi il₂-il₂-i-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
igi gun₃-gun₃-na-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
uru₁₆-na nu-še-ga-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
u₃-ma gub-gub-bu-za ḥe₂-zu-am₃
dnanna li-bi₂-in-dug₄-ga za-a-kam bi₂-in-dug₄-ga
nin-ĝu₁₀ ib₂-gu-ul-en i₃-maḥ-en
nin ki aĝ₂ an-na-ĝu₁₀ mir-mir-za ga-am₃-dug₄
ne-mur mu-dub šu-luḥ si bi₂-sa₂
e₂-eš₂-dam-kug ma-ra-ĝal₂ šag₄-zu na-ma-sed-de₃
im-ma-si im-ma-dirig-ga-ta nin UN-gal ma-ra-dug₄
niĝ₂ ĝi₆ u₃-na ma-ra-an-dug₄-ga-am₃
gala-e an-bar₇-ka šu ḥu-mu-ra-ab-gi₄-gi₄
dam dab₅-ba-za-ke₄-eš dumu dab₅-ba-za-ke₄-eš
ib₂-ba-zu ib₂-gu-ul šag₄-zu nu-te-en-te-en
nin gu₂-tuku nir-ĝal₂ gu₂-en-na-ke₄
sizkur₂-ra-na šu ba-an-ši-in-ti
šag₄ kug dinana ki-bi ba-an-na-ab-gi₄
ud ba-an-na-dug₃ la-la ba-an-sud-sud ḥi-li ma-az ba-an-du₈-du₈
iti₆ e₃-a-gin₇ la-la ba-an-guru₃
dnanna u₆ zid-de₃-eš mu-un-e₃
ama-ni dnin-gal-am₃ šudu₃ mu-na-an-ša₄
ĝiš-kan₄-na-ke₄ silim-ma mu-na-ab-be₂
nu-gig-ra dug₄-ga-ni maḥ-am₃
kur gul-gul an-da me ba-a
nin-ĝu₁₀ ḥi-li gu₂ e₃ dinana za₃-mi₂

Source Colophon

Sumerian composite transliteration from the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (ETCSL), text c.4.07.2. Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. The ETCSL is a freely accessible scholarly resource providing standardized transliterations of Sumerian literary compositions. The composite text draws from multiple manuscript witnesses.

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