On this Valentines Day I’d love to share with you the oldest love poem over found. Take notes if you want to impress!

Bridegroom, dear to my heart,

Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet,

Lion, dear to my heart,

Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet,

 

Bridegroom, let me caress you,

My precious caress is more savory than honey,

In the bedchamber, honey-filled,

Let me enjoy your goodly beauty,

Lion, let me caress you,

 

My precious caress is more savory than honey,

Bridegroom, you have taken your pleasure of me,

Tell my mother, she will give you delicacies,

My father, he will give you gifts,

 

You, because you love me,

Give me pray of your caresses,

My lord god, my lord protector,

My SHU-SIN, who gladdens ENLIL’s heart,

Give my pray of your caresses

Four thousand years ago King Shu-Sin of Ur married the priestess Enlil between 2037-2029 BC when he ruled over the great city of Ur. To commemorate the event, the poem Enlil recited to the king, was inscribed upon a cuneiform tablet about the size of your palm.

The Sumerian king married a priestess every year–believing that only great passion and love could ensure fertility. By reenacting the coupling of the Sumerian gods Inanna/Ishtar and Dumuzi/Tammuz, the agriculture-based community would ensure not only the fertility of the woman but also the land for another year.

Can you imagine the poem above being recited followed by singing, dancing, and revelry?

If you are interested in the time of Alexander the Great, dark historical fantasy, and a bit of passion–you’ll love Gates the Hours Keep.

If you want to know more about this love poem and the Sumerian culture that wrote it, please reference Ancient Origins.