My chapter on women and writing reflects my own curiosity
about women’s voices in ancient times, and their roles as story tellers and
scholars. While men were conducting business, birthing ever new and innovative
ways of writing, what were the women doing? From mothers telling stories to
their children, to wives stepping into the shoes of their absent or deceased
husbands, to the daughters of rich and powerful leaders who had no other heir.
Women’s roles in literature and government were subordinate, but no less
substantial. I will be examining the work of some of these obscure but prolific
writers, and examining the question of why women did not make a bigger impact
in history as writers.
The first point I would like to make is examination word history itself.
One word can say volumes in explanation, his-story, not her-story, or rather
his-story is her-story.
Perhaps I should start by examining women’s roles in ancient times,Ý say
2300 B.C. till 1700 A.D..Bringer of life, caregiver, maintenance of the settlement
while the men were on the hunt, teacher, lover, wise woman, healer, storyteller,
singer of songs of mourning, singer in praise of his-story and occasionally,
her-story. Women were busy. Women are no less busy today. Does recognition
come with the weight and impact of power? In order for some one to be powerful,
they need to be recognized as such. Shows of power may be made through weighty
deeds displayed for whole communities, or domination of another or entire
communities, or acts of war on other communities. Territorialism and hierarchy,
not necessarily women’s concerns, unless a woman had the concerns of her
father or her husband thrust upon her. Of course there are tales in history
of ambitious and power hungry women wrecking havoc on the male world, or
women of position, dynamic queens and priestesses with political vision making
great strides for their communities or countries, usually with great opposition
from the men. But these women’s names number few and exceptional among the
names of prominent men who’s numbers could almost make them invisible, had
it not been for the impact of these grand dames on civilization. And what
of the countless women who’s deeds were no less weighty and significant,
but who’s voices have never been heard, except in the way life is understood
and maintained.
The earliest voice I could find was the one of Enheduanna (later 2300’s BCE). Enheduanna’s father Sargon, was the ruler of Akkad in
Mesopotamia. He conquered southern Sumer, and installed his daughter as high
priest of the temple to Nanna, the biggest temple in Ur, one of the most important
cities in the south. Sargon being concerned for the religious beliefs of
Sumerians and that they be represented and defended, had Enheduanna write
temple
hymns to Sumerian goddess Inanna.
These hymns also exalt Sargon and his triumph over his Akkadian and Sumerian
enemies. In a fragment of one of Enheduanna’s hymns, she makes reference to
herself as “Ningal”,
goddess wife to Nanna.
The idea a single woman in a religious post, being the spouse of an almighty
being or deity, has certainly endured time.
Sappho (c. 600BCE) was born into an aristocratic family on the island Lesbos in Greece.
Lesbos was a cultural center, as well as being an important part of the trade
route between Greece and Asia. She married and had one daughter. Sappho dedicated
herself to the arts, excelling in music and poetry. Her poetry became so
legendary, upon a visit to Syracuse, the inhabitants erected a statue in
her honor. She composed songs for group performance, being the center of
a very close knit group of women, possibly a chorus or an academy. But her
preference was for individual voices accompanied by lyre. Composing her own
music, she refined the lyric meter so uniquely, it became known as the “Sapphic
Meter”. She is described as the worlds first female poet by one Professor
Kostos Hadavas, instructor of a course on Sappho. The introduction to
his course states this. I would tend to disagree, as evidenced by the volume
of work put out by Enheduanna, and she is the one we know about, one of the
women who managed to penetrate history. There must be countless others not
made famous by position or infamy, whose work on inexpensive natural materials
were never preserved by time or the praise of men.
Sappho is probably more famous today for her sexuality then her work. Her place of birth has become innuendo, everyone knows what
a Lesbian means, but 2000 years ago, it meant you came from a place called
Lesbos and you could probably have a pretty good time there if you were looking
to hang with the “in” crowd.
Sappho’s work reflected
her own tastes and desires, which is what sets her apart from someone like
Enheduanna who was a Priestess and composed her poems as hymns to a deity.
Sappho’s work was part of the world. Of women and men, of lust and desire
and yearning. An interesting note. Sappho’s work exists today in fragments.
But manuscripts of hers were unearthed in the Nile valley and refuse heaps
excavated have revealed papyrus strips containing Sappho’s work. These strips
were used to wrap mummies, coffins, and to stuff sacred animals. Work continues
today to piece these strips together.
The work of Anyte
of Tegea (c. 300 BCE) had a unique voice, described as feminine for
its introspective quality, and her unique theme choices for her epigrams.
Epigrams were
an offshoot of epitaphs and dedications. The word epigram in Latin, literally
means “inscription”. Epigrams, like epitaphs are short and to the point, no
more then six or eight lines, but commonly found with four. Popular in the
Alexandrian period, many fine poets were writing in the epigram form, and
can be found in The Greek Anthology a collection of poems put together by Mileager of Gadara (c. 90 BCE). Twenty
four of the epigrams are attributed to Anyte. The themes for Anyte’s
poems are what sets her apart. She does the traditional epitaphs for humans,
but writes epitaphs for animals too. She wrote dedications for objects, as
well as pure landscape. She was innovative in her use of subject matter, and
effectively widened the scope of poetry in her time.