Enheduanna: The world’s first named author! This person’s name came up in my recent reading of Neil Oliver’s book – The Story of the World in 100 Moments. I must admit that I, like I am sure many others, had not her name before.
However, there is quite a story to tell about this Mesopotamian poet, princess, and priestess from circa 3400–2000 BCE.
The New Yorker – The Struggle to Unearth the World’s First Author
The Morgan Library and Museum – She Who Wrote: Enheduanna and Women of Mesopotamia, ca. 3400–2000 B.C.
Telegraphi – The oldest signed poems bear the name of a woman
They say it’s a mark of time that you can always remember where you were when certain past public events took place, the Kennedy assassination, the first man to walk on the moon, the Falklands War, the death of Queen Elizabeth II and of course the day that Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire!
Having visited it many times over the years while being in Paris on business/pleasure, it was devastating to see and one could only wonder at the time, if it would or even could be rebuilt. Ancient Cathedrals have burnt down before and some have been rebuilt, but was this a task too far?
No, it was not. What an unbelievable job the whole of France has done. It’s taken over 5 years of hard work and amazing efforts to bring it back to life. I followed the progress through the various documentaries that were made showing all the various trades that were collected together to restore the massive structure.
I hope to go back and see it again in 2025, but will wait until the immediate rush of visitor has died down. Yes, it was tragic to witness its demise, but equally, it has been amazing to see it rise again from the ashes.
I came across these London Underground Map images accidentally a while ago while looking for some other information about London history. Its interesting how the design has evolved over the years.
Beasley's Place 