This is the oldest known love poem in the world.
And though it is over 4000 years old, its universal expression of love would make you think it was written yesterday.
Below, we explore this beautiful poem and its rich history…
And though it is over 4000 years old, its universal expression of love would make you think it was written yesterday.
Below, we explore this beautiful poem and its rich history…
Before we speak of the poem, it is important to point out that it was only discovered in the 19th century.
Before that point, the presumption was that the Bible was the oldest written text and that the Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) was the oldest known love poem.
Before that point, the presumption was that the Bible was the oldest written text and that the Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs) was the oldest known love poem.
A beautiful poem full of sensual and erotic themes that has been beloved by Christian mystics throughout the ages, the Song of Songs explores the spiritual love that binds the human soul in union with the Divine.
But in the 19th century it became clear that this was not the oldest love poem at all.
And this discovery came with a group of archaeologists who excavated the ancient Mesopotamian region in their quest to find the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh mentioned in the Bible.
And this discovery came with a group of archaeologists who excavated the ancient Mesopotamian region in their quest to find the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh mentioned in the Bible.
While excavating the site in 1846–47, the English archaeologist and historian Austen Henry Layard (1817–94) uncovered the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (r. 668–27 BCE) where he found a number of cuneiform texts.
Among the tablets were tales of various Mesopotamian myths.
Over time, these tablets found themselves in various museums across the world.
However, there was one unknown tablet that ended up in a random drawer of the Museum of the Ancient Orient in Istanbul, Turkey.
Over time, these tablets found themselves in various museums across the world.
However, there was one unknown tablet that ended up in a random drawer of the Museum of the Ancient Orient in Istanbul, Turkey.
By chance, the famous Assyriologist and Sumerian expert, Samuel Noah Kramer (1897–1990), came across the tablet.
Examining it, he quickly realised the tablet’s significance, saying:
“What I held in my hand was one of the oldest love songs written down by the hand of man.”
Examining it, he quickly realised the tablet’s significance, saying:
“What I held in my hand was one of the oldest love songs written down by the hand of man.”
The poem in question has been labelled ‘The Love Song of Shu-Sin’ and is dated to around 2030 BCE, originating in the ancient Mesopotamian civilisation of Sumer.
Shu-Sin refers to an ancient Sumerian king who ruled the city of Ur from 2037 BCE to 2028 BCE.
Shu-Sin refers to an ancient Sumerian king who ruled the city of Ur from 2037 BCE to 2028 BCE.
The poem is believed to have been written as part of an ancient Sumerian fertility ritual.
In this ritual, which was celebrated every year on New Year’s day, the Sumerian King would symbolically marry Inanna, the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, beauty, war, and fertility.
In this ritual, which was celebrated every year on New Year’s day, the Sumerian King would symbolically marry Inanna, the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of love, beauty, war, and fertility.
Inanna was one of the most revered deities of ancient Mesopotamia.
Her name derives from the Sumerian term for ‘Lady of Heaven’ and she was worshipped as a bestower of good fortune and abundance.
Her most prominent symbols were the lion and the rosette (signifying love and war)
Her name derives from the Sumerian term for ‘Lady of Heaven’ and she was worshipped as a bestower of good fortune and abundance.
Her most prominent symbols were the lion and the rosette (signifying love and war)
The sacred rite of the Sumerian king’s betrothal with Inanna was known as the ‘divine marriage’ (or ‘hieros gamos’), and was held during the annual New Year (Akita) ceremony.
The aim of it was to ensure prosperity and fertility for the kingdom during the forthcoming year.
The aim of it was to ensure prosperity and fertility for the kingdom during the forthcoming year.
In Mesopotamian myth, the husband of Inanna was the god of shepherds, Dumuzid.
And during this ‘divine marriage’ ritual, the Sumerian king was believed to symbolically take the role of Dumuzid as Inanna’s spouse.
And during this ‘divine marriage’ ritual, the Sumerian king was believed to symbolically take the role of Dumuzid as Inanna’s spouse.
Though little is known about the actual ceremony, what we do know is that it was a very festive ritual, with large feasts and banquets taking place and accompanied with music, singing, and dancing.
As part of the ritual—to signify the mystical union of Dumuzid with Inanna—the king would take one of the temple priestesses who were votaries of Inanna and make love with her.
The chosen bride of the king would be expected to compose and recite a poem of praise for the ruler.
The chosen bride of the king would be expected to compose and recite a poem of praise for the ruler.
And this brings us back to our love poem: The Love Song of Shu-Sin.
It is believed that this poem was most probably recited by one of Inanna’s devotees who was chosen as the bride to king Shu-Sin on one of these New Year celebrations, somewhere around the year 2030 BCE.
It is believed that this poem was most probably recited by one of Inanna’s devotees who was chosen as the bride to king Shu-Sin on one of these New Year celebrations, somewhere around the year 2030 BCE.
The beautiful poem is of course in the female voice and gives expression to a deep, intense romantic and erotic love.
Below are some passages from this gorgeous poem:
Darling of my heart, my belovèd,
your enticements are sweet, far sweeter than honey!
Below are some passages from this gorgeous poem:
Darling of my heart, my belovèd,
your enticements are sweet, far sweeter than honey!
You have captivated me; I stand trembling before you.
Darling, lead me swiftly into the bedroom!
You have captivated me; I stand trembling before you.
Darling, lead me swiftly into the bedroom!
Sweetheart, let me do the sweetest things for you!
Darling, lead me swiftly into the bedroom!
You have captivated me; I stand trembling before you.
Darling, lead me swiftly into the bedroom!
Sweetheart, let me do the sweetest things for you!
This crevice you'll caress is far sweeter than honey!
In the bedchamber, dripping love’s honey,
let’s enjoy the sweetest thing.
Sweetheart, let me do the sweetest things for you!
This crevice you'll caress is far sweeter than honey!
In the bedchamber, dripping love’s honey,
let’s enjoy the sweetest thing.
Sweetheart, let me do the sweetest things for you!
This crevice you'll caress is far sweeter than honey!
Bridegroom, you will have your pleasure with me!
I know how to give your body pleasure—
then sleep easily, my darling, until the sun dawns.
To prove that you love me,
give me your caresses,
I know how to give your body pleasure—
then sleep easily, my darling, until the sun dawns.
To prove that you love me,
give me your caresses,
my Lord God, my guardian Angel and protector,
my Shu-Sin, who gladdens Enlil’s heart,
give me your caresses!
My place like sticky honey, touch it with your hand!
Place your hand over it like a honey-pot lid!
Cup your hand over it like a honey cup!
my Shu-Sin, who gladdens Enlil’s heart,
give me your caresses!
My place like sticky honey, touch it with your hand!
Place your hand over it like a honey-pot lid!
Cup your hand over it like a honey cup!
Though composed 4000 years ago as part of a specific Sumerian ritual, the beautiful poem is universal in its theme.
The ecstasy, the passion, and the delight of love is a theme found in the poetry of every age and every culture—for Love is how we join in union with the Divine.
The ecstasy, the passion, and the delight of love is a theme found in the poetry of every age and every culture—for Love is how we join in union with the Divine.
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