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Oldest Love Poem Which was the oldest love poem in the world? Was it “The Song of Solomon’ or something else? Until the legendary, George Smith could translate the cuneiform texts, that were discovered by Layard on excavation of a Biblical site at Nineveh in 1846-1847, the story of the Fall of Man and The great Flood and Noah’s Ark were considered as the original compositions of the authors of the Book of Genesis. However, the translated cuneiform texts tell us that those were preexisting Mesopotamian tales, which were re-worked by later Hebrew scribes. It also confirmed that The Song of Songs or The Song of Solomon as it is known was not the oldest love poem. Written in 6th-3rd centuries BCE, it is no more considered as the oldest love poem after the discovery of the poem The Love Song for Shu-Sin (written c.2000 BCE). The Love Song for Shu-Sin was not just a love poem. We now know that it was also a part of a sacred rite, performed each year, known as the “sacred marriage” in which the king Shu-Sin who ruled over the land of Sumer close to four thousand years ago would symbolically marry the goddess Inanna, mate with her, and ensure fertility and prosperity for the coming year. Interested readers may please go through the translation of The Love Song of Shu-Sin quoted here under from Samuel Noah Kramer's work History Begins at Sumer, pp 246-247: "Bridegroom, dear to my heart, Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet, Lion, dear to my heart, Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet. You have captivated me, let me stand tremblingly before you. Bridegroom, I would be taken by you to the bedchamber, You have captivated me, let me stand tremblingly before you. Lion, I would be taken by you to the bedchamber. Bridegroom, let me caress you, My precious caress is more savory than honey, In the bedchamber, honey-filled, Let me enjoy your goodly beauty, Lion, let me caress you, My precious caress is more savory than honey. Bridegroom, you have taken your pleasure of me, Tell my mother, she will give you delicacies, My father, he will give you gifts. Your spirit, I know where to cheer your spirit, Bridegroom, sleep in our house until dawn, Your heart, I know where to gladden your heart, Lion, sleep in our house until dawn. You, because you love me, Give me pray of your caresses, My lord god, my lord protector, My Shu-Sin, who gladdens Enlil’s heart, Give my pray of your caresses. Your place goodly as honey, pray lay your hand on it, Bring your hand over like a gishban-garment, Cup your hand over it like a gishban-sikin-garment" It is a balbale-song of Inanna. Source: History Begins at Sumer. Book by Samuel Noah Kramer Happy Readings: ________________________________________ Details of the uploaded Pictures 1.Marriage of Inanna to Dumezi ( Shu-Sin) 2.This cuneiform tablet contains a love poem written between 2037 and 2029 BCE 3.The Sumerian poem on the right is about the passionate embrace on the left. 4.Cover of the Book.     |
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Yes, you are absolutely correct. Love is as old as time itself. Have a nice week.
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Looklook, mbn, Thanks for this informative blog, though I've not heard about it before but pleased to read it through this blog of yours. And the poem-like as a rite song as well. Thanks again, keep well and cheerful. My best wishes to you. Lisa.
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Lisa,Mlld. Thanks for eventually stopping by and also for leaving your views here on the post. I appreciate the gesture very kindly shown by you. Take care and try to be always happy and cheerful. All my best wishes are for you. look
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