Enheduanna vs Merenre Nemtyemsaf I

Enheduanna, high priestess of the moon god Nanna at Ur, composed a collection of 42 temple hymns dedicated to the major temples of Sumer and Akkad. These hymns are the earliest known works of literature attributed to a named author, establishing her as the world's first known author.

Sargon of Akkad appointed his daughter Enheduanna as high priestess of the moon god Nanna at Ur. This appointment was a political move to consolidate Akkadian control over Sumer by placing a royal family member in a key religious position. Enheduanna served in this role for decades.

Enheduanna wrote the 'Exaltation of Inanna', a long poem praising the goddess Inanna and describing her own exile from Ur. The poem is a personal and political work, reflecting her struggles and her devotion to Inanna. It is one of the earliest known works of poetry.

Merenre Nemtyemsaf I ascended the throne as a young boy and died in his teens after a reign of only about 9 years. His early death led to a succession crisis and the eventual accession of his younger brother, Pepi II, who would reign for over 90 years.

Merenre began building his pyramid at Saqqara, but it was left unfinished due to his early death. The pyramid was later completed in a hasty manner by his successor. The burial chamber contained a granite sarcophagus and fragments of Pyramid Texts.

During Merenre's reign, an expedition was sent to the Wadi Hammamat to quarry stone for his pyramid. The expedition is recorded in inscriptions at the site, which mention the names of officials and the number of men involved.