c. 2285 BCEReputable sourceWell documented
Enheduanna, the First Author in History
On the timeline · around c. 2285 BCE ·
What happened
Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon of Akkad, served as high priestess of the moon god at Ur and composed hymns to the goddess Inanna. She signed her work — making her the earliest known author in world history whose name is attached to their writing.
Why it matters
Writing 1,500 years before Homer, Enheduanna is the first named author of any kind. She wrote in the first person, giving us the earliest known voice of an individual writer.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Enheduanna · Reputable source