The Sumerian King List is unsurprisingly filled with the names of men: Alulim, Hadanish and Zizi. But alongside its male monarchs, the world’s first known civilization also produced the first known female ruler: Kubaba (also Kug-Bau or Ku-Baba) who brewed and sold beer in the ancient city of Kish in Mesopotamia.
Queen Kubaba: The Tavern Keeper Who Became the First Female Ruler in History
Some 4,500 years ago, a woman rose to power and reigned over one of the largest civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia.
By Cody Cottier
Feb 23, 2021 1:35 PMFeb 23, 2021 1:37 PM
A relief portrait housed at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. (Credit: EvrenKalinbacak/Shutterstock)
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