What was the ancient Mesopotamian priestess title held by Enheduanna at Ur?

Enheduanna held the title of en-priestess at the temple of the moon god Nanna in Ur. She lived during the Akkadian period and was the daughter of Sargon of Akkad according to inscriptions and later tradition.

The en-priestess was a senior religious office connected with a city’s chief temple and cult. At Ur, Enheduanna’s position helped link Akkadian imperial power with the established religious traditions of Sumer. Her appointment was therefore both a sacred responsibility and a significant political institution.

Enheduanna is widely regarded as the earliest known author whose name is attached to surviving literary works. Hymns attributed to her praise Inanna and other deities, although the transmission and later copying of these texts require scholarly caution. Her title is sometimes rendered simply as “high priestess,” but “en-priestess” preserves the ancient Sumerian office more precisely.