Women

Women had important roles in Mesopotamian life. Some worked in markets, some managed farms or weaving shops, and others served as priestesses in the temples. These priestesses were respected and sometimes claimed they could read signs from the gods — predicting floods, harvests, or the future of the king.

The most famous woman of Mesopotamia was Enheduanna, a high priestess and the world’s first known author. She wrote beautiful hymns and poems to the goddess Inanna (Ishtar). In one of her poems, she wrote:

“Lady of all powers,

rising resplendent in the sky,

you pour fire upon the land,

roaring like thunder.”

Her words were written over 4,000 years ago — and still survive today.