The earliest known author of written literature is a Mesopotamian priestess and poet named Enheduanna. Her hymns to the goddess Inanna constitute the earliest written portrayal of an ancient goddess, and here, Betty Meador's book gives complete texts of the hymns, skillfully and beautifully rendered into English. 
 
 In addition to the translations, Meador also includes chapters on Enheduanna and her life within the context of religious and cultural systems of ancient Mesopotamia. Recommended.