Kesh Temple Hymn

At a glance

History, context & interpretation

What this document is

Oldest surviving religious literature. Praise hymn to Ninhursag and the temple at Kesh. Authorship anonymous; part of early Sumerian temple tradition.

Dating and civilization

Kesh Temple Hymn is catalogued under Sumerian and is dated c. 2600 BCE. Its recorded category is Temple Ritual, associated with Cuneiform.

Where to investigate

British Museum (London) and other collections hold related Sumerian tablets from the Early Dynastic period

Connected traditions

This entry connects to Ra (Re), An (Anu), Ninhursag, Thor. Follow the linked deity profiles to compare stories and roles.

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Sources and further reading

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kesh_temple_hymn

Historical descriptions are educational summaries. Religious traditions, scholarly interpretations and unverified claims are distinguished where possible; imagery may be illustrative rather than an artifact photograph.