| The earliest known writing system, called cuneiform, was initially used by bookkeepers to track beer and food rations in ancient Mesopotamian cities. Eventually, the tablets became home to more interesting reading material — like professions of love and passion. Historians now believe the world's oldest romantic poem was written in cuneiform 4,000 years ago, sometime around 2000 BCE. Called "The Love Song for Shu-Sin," the poem expresses affection between Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of love, and Shu-Sin, the king of Ur (a Mesopotamian city that once stood in present-day southern Iraq). Despite being uncovered at an archaeological dig site in the late 19th century, the clay tablet featuring "The Love Song for Shu-Sin" sat untranslated for decades following its discovery. Tucked into storage at the Istanbul Museum in Turkey, the ancient notepad went unnoticed until 1951, when scholar Samuel Noah Kramer deciphered its inscription and interpreted its meaning. He surmised that the poem wasn't just a statement of love, but part of a larger religious ceremony. Each year, the Sumerian king was responsible for symbolically marrying the goddess Inanna to ensure prosperity and bountiful harvests in the year ahead. While Shu-Sin — who ruled from 1973 to 1964 BCE — was featured in a series of other poems, researchers aren't sure about details of the ritual. But even without us knowing more, the poem remains historically significant, shaping our understanding of early writing and world history — and perhaps even inspiring a little romance. | 
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