In ancient Mesopotamia, dating back 4,500 years, gender-diverse individuals held significant societal roles and professional titles. These positions included the assinnu, cultic attendants of the deity Ištar, and the ša rēši, high-ranking royal courtiers. Evidence suggests that their positions of power were a result of their gender ambiguity.
About Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a historical region corresponding primarily to modern Iraq, with parts also extending into Syria, Turkey, and Iran. Known as the 'land between two rivers' (Euphrates and Tigris), it was part of the Fertile Crescent. Over thousands of years, various cultural groups, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Assyrians, and Babylonians, inhabited the region. The Sumerians developed cuneiform, a wedge-shaped script used on clay tablets, which later civilizations adapted for their own languages.
The Assinnu
The assinnu served as religious attendants to IÅ¡tar, the major Mesopotamian goddess of love and war, also known as Inanna. IÅ¡tar was a powerful deity responsible for legitimizing kings and overseeing love, sexuality, and fertility; her cult's maintenance was considered vital for humanity's survival. The assinnu's duties included performing religious rituals and maintaining IÅ¡tar's temple.
The Akkadian term 'assinnu' relates to concepts like 'woman-like,' 'man-woman,' 'hero,' and 'priestess.' IÅ¡tar was described in Sumerian hymns as having the ability to transform genders, suggesting she bestowed gender fluidity upon the assinnu. Early interpretations that viewed assinnu as religious sex workers or eunuchs lack clear supporting evidence. Texts indicate they resisted the gender binary, with evidence of both male and female assinnu.
Their religious importance was associated with magical and healing abilities, as suggested by incantations. An omen from the Neo-Assyrian period indicates that sexual relations with an assinnu could lead to personal benefits. Furthermore, they held political influence; a Neo-Babylonian almanac states that a king interacting with an assinnu could achieve victory and obedience from his land. The assinnu were believed to bridge the divine and mortal realms due to their gender transformation by IÅ¡tar.
The Å a RÄ“Å¡i
The ša rēši were royal attendants, often referred to as eunuchs by later scholars, though the Mesopotamian term means 'one of the head' and refers to the king's closest courtiers. They held various high-ranking palace positions.
Evidence of their gender ambiguity includes textual descriptions of infertility, such as an incantation wishing for semen to 'dry up like a ša rēši who does not beget.' Visually, ša rēši were consistently depicted without beards, contrasting with 'ša ziqnī' (bearded ones) who had descendants. In Mesopotamian culture, beards symbolized manhood. Despite their beardless appearance, ša rēši wore similar attire to other royal men, indicating their authority.
A primary function of the ša rēši was supervising the palace's women's quarters, an area with restricted access where only the king was otherwise permitted. They also fulfilled martial roles as guards and charioteers, even leading armies. After military successes, ša rēši were granted property and governorship over conquered territories, as evidenced by royal stone inscriptions. Their perceived gender fluidity allowed them to transcend conventional boundaries of gendered spaces and the roles of ruler and subject.