"The exaltation of Inana’ is a poem of 150 lines composed in sumerian by Enheduanna,

the woman who was the world’s first named poet.

Enheduanna lived about 4500 years ago

in the city of Ur near the river Eufrates in Ancient Iraq."

Credits: 'The Exaltation of Inana' - this long Sumerian poem composed more than 4000 years ago by Enheduanna, the world's first named poet, is presented in English by Fran Hazelton, a 21st century Mesopotamian Storyteller. Betty De Shong Meador, author of 'Inana, Lady of the Largest Heart, the poems of the Sumerian high priestess Enheduanna' published by the University of Texas press in 2000. Dr Jana Matuszak The sound recording and editing was by Jennifer Iles The harp was played by Tara Jaff

Fran Hazelton is a Londoner born in 1947. She studied Mesopotamian mythology at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London University. She co-founded the Zipang trio of Mesopotamian Storytellers and an education charity - The Enheduanna Society - which promotes the literature of ancient Iraq. Enheduanna lived in ancient Iraq more than 4000 years ago and was the world's first named poet. Enheduanna's long Sumerian poem known as 'The Exaltation of Inana' is the subject of Fran's contribution to the Curse Poem project. Fran has published two books of retold Mesopotamian stories: 'Stories from ancient Iraq' and 'Three Kings of Warka - the myths of Enmerker, Lugalbanda and Gilgamesh'.