Ancient Near East - Women

About Artemisia

In the 5th century B.C.E., this queen of Halicarnassus helped Xerxes against the Greeks, then helped talk Xerxes out of pursuing his conquest of Greece. Biography from your About Guide to Women's History.

Enheduanna, Priestess of Inanna

Enheduanna is the first author and poet in the world that history knows by name. She made Inanna supreme over the other deities in King Sargon's Akkadian empire when she became the priestess of Inanna's temple.

About Semiramis - Sammu-Ramat

Legendary warrior queen of Assyria, she's credited with building a new Babylon as well as conquest of neighboring states. Biography from your About Guide to Women's History.

Ancient Mesopotamia: The Role of Women

From the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, this "learning collection" explains and illustrates the role of women in ancient Mesopotamia, the earliest civilization in the Near or Middle East.

Ancient Tablets, Ancient Graves

Using translations of cuneiform tablets, students can infer information about goddesses, women's status, etc. in ancient Mesopotamia

Code of the Assura 1075 BCE excerpts

Excerpts from the Assyrian code of law, with emphasis on the status of women.

Enheduanna

Writings of the daughter of Sargon, plus biographical and bibliographical information.

Traditions of Magic in Late Antiquity

An online exhibit of objects and texts used in the practice of "magic." Includes suggestions for further reading.

Women in the Ancient Near East

Bibliography of relatively recent (through 1995) written source material. From the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago.