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All Turkey Istanbul Istanbul 2461

Istanbul 2461

Quite possibly the oldest love poem known to humankind.

Istanbul, Turkey

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Fred Cherrygarden
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L.2461 on display at the Istanbul Museum of the Ancient Orient.   Andriy Makukha
L.2461 on display at the Istanbul Museum of the Ancient Orient.   Andriy Makukha
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
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In the Mesopotamia Hall at the Istanbul Museum of the Ancient Orient, there is an ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablet with an interesting poem engraved. It contains a balbale that is thought to be the oldest love poem ever found, known by the title Bridegroom, Spend the Night in Our House Till Dawn.

Unearthed at the archaeological site of Nippur during the late 1880s, the poem is a monologue directed to Shu-Sin, king of the Neo-Sumerian Empire. It's told from the perspective of a female speaker, who expresses her intense longing for the king in an erotic manner.

A theory has suggested that the poem may have been sung at the yearly rite of "sacred marriage" or hierogamy. During this event, the king would symbolically marry Inanna, the goddess of fertility, love and war, to ensure the next year's prosperity.

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Ancient Artifacts Mesopotamia

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Fred Cherrygarden

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March 18, 2020

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Istanbul 2461
Park İçi Yolu
Faith
Istanbul, 34122
Turkey
41.011343, 28.98031
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