EN (cuneiform)

Cuneiform sign "EN", for "Lord" or "Master": evolution from the pictograph of a throne circa 3000 BC on a plaque in the name of Goddess Inanna, followed by simplification and rotation down to circa 600 BC.[1]

En (Borger 2003 nr. 164 EN; U+12097 𒂗, see also Ensí) is the Sumerian cuneiform for 'lord/lady' or 'priest[ess]'. Originally, it seems to have been used to designate a high priest or priestess of a Sumerian city-state's patron-deity[2] – a position that entailed political power as well. It may also have been the original title of the ruler of Uruk. See Lugal, ensi and en for more details.

Deities including En as part of their name include DEnlil, DEnki, DEngurun, and DEnzu.

Enheduanna, Akkadian 2285 BC – 2250 BC was the first known holder of the title En, here meaning 'Priestess'.

  1. ^ "Site officiel du musée du Louvre". CartelFr.Louvre.fr (in French). Paris: Louvre Museum, Ministry of Culture.
  2. ^ Saggs, H. W. F. (1988) [1962]. The Greatness That Was Babylon (revised 2nd ed.). [page needed]