Istanbul 2461
| Istanbul #2461 | |
|---|---|
"The Oldest Love Poem" (L.2461) on display at the Istanbul Museum of the Ancient Orient | |
| Material | terracotta |
| Size | 10.7 x 6 x 3.1 cm |
| Writing | Sumerian language in cuneiform script |
| Created | 2037–2029 BC (long chronology) 1972–1964 BC (short chronology) |
| Discovered | late 1880s Nippur |
| Present location | Istanbul Museum of the Ancient Orient |
Istanbul #2461 (also Ni 2461, L.2461) is an ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablet. Some have labelled it the world's oldest love poem. It is on display at the Istanbul Museum of the Ancient Orient (Mesopotamia Hall).
It is an erotic poem addressed to king Shu-Sin (reigned 20th or 21st century BC) by an unnamed female speaker. It is thought that the poem may be connected to a "sacred marriage" between the king and a priestess of Inanna.