Anaya Nolan
The Code of Hammurabi is a Babylonian legal text composed during 1755–1750 BC, making it one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes. It was proclaimed by Hammurabi, the sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon, who reigned from 1792 to 1750 BC. The code, a collection of 282 rules, established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice. Hammurabi's Code was inscribed on a massive, finger-shaped black stone stele that was looted by invaders and rediscovered in 1901. The text was compiled at the end of Hammurabi's reign and is considered a collection of legal precedents, with the king himself presenting it as a just and pious rule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of creation | 1755–1750 BC or 1792–1750 BC |
| Creator | Hammurabi, Babylonian king |
| Number of rules | 282 |
| Format | If-then form |
| Topics covered | Family law, professional contracts, administrative law, commercial interactions, theft, assault, slavery, debt, marriage, divorce, prices, tariffs, trade, commerce |
| Language | Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian (Semitic) |
| Medium | Inscribed on a basalt stele |
| Place of discovery | Susa, present-day Iran |
| Date of rediscovery | 1901 or 1902 |
| Notable features | Harsh punishments, considered innocent until proven guilty, different standards of justice for different social classes |
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What You'll Learn
The Code of Hammurabi was rediscovered in 1901
The stele is 2.25 metres (7 feet 4+1⁄2 inches) tall, with a circumference of 165 centimetres (5 feet 5 inches) at the summit and 190 centimetres (6 feet 3 inches) at the base. It features a two-and-a-half-foot relief carving of Hammurabi, the sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon, receiving the law from the Babylonian god of justice, Shamash. Below the relief are about 4,130 lines of cuneiform text, with one-fifth containing a prologue and epilogue in poetic style, and the remaining four-fifths containing the laws.
The Code of Hammurabi is a collection of 282 rules, written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian, that established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice. It is the longest, best-organized, and best-preserved legal text from the ancient Near East. It includes harsh punishments, such as the removal of the guilty party's tongue, hands, breasts, eye, or ear, but it is also one of the earliest examples of an accused person being considered innocent until proven guilty. The edicts range from family law to professional contracts and administrative law, outlining different standards of justice for the three classes of Babylonian society: the propertied class, freedmen, and slaves.
The rediscovery of the Code of Hammurabi was considered a significant event in the development of Assyriological science, and it was praised by scholars for its perceived fairness and respect for the rule of law. It is regarded as an important figure in the history of law, with replicas of the stele displayed in institutions such as the United Nations headquarters in New York City and the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
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The code was inscribed on a stele
The Code of Hammurabi was inscribed on a basalt stele, a massive, finger-shaped black stone pillar. The stele was carved from a single, four-ton slab of diorite, a durable but challenging stone for carving. The stele features a two-and-a-half-foot relief carving of Hammurabi, the Babylonian king, receiving the law from the seated Shamash, the Babylonian god of justice. Above the relief are about 4,130 lines of cuneiform text, containing a prologue and an epilogue, as well as 282 case laws. The laws cover various aspects of life, including economic provisions, family law, criminal law, and civil law, with penalties varying according to the offender's status and the circumstances of the offence.
The stele was originally installed in the temple of Marduk, the national god of Babylonia, or possibly in the temple of Shamash in Sippar. It was looted by invaders and rediscovered in 1901 at the site of Susa in present-day Iran. Copies of the Code of Hammurabi were also found in other locations, such as Babylon, Nineveh, and Assur, indicating that the text was widely studied and copied.
The Code of Hammurabi is considered one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, with 282 rules establishing standards for commercial interactions and setting fines and punishments. It is also notable for its principle of considering the accused innocent until proven guilty. The laws covered a wide range of topics, including family law, professional contracts, and administrative law, and they outlined different standards of justice for the three classes of Babylonian society: the propertied class, freedmen, and slaves.
The stele is now on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris, with replicas located in various institutions, including the United Nations headquarters in New York City and the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. The Code of Hammurabi has gained enduring fame as the oldest known written code of law, influencing later legal collections and solidifying Hammurabi's place in history as a significant figure in the development of law.
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It was written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian
The Code of Hammurabi is a Babylonian legal text composed between 1755 and 1750 BC. It is the longest, best-organized, and best-preserved legal text from the ancient Near East. It is written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian.
Akkadian is a language that was widely spoken in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). It was written in the cuneiform script from around 2400 BC to the early centuries AD. Akkadian had two principal dialects: Assyrian in the north and Babylonian in the south. These dialects exhibited differences over time, with Old Assyrian, Middle Assyrian, and Neo-Assyrian in the north, and Old Babylonian in the south.
Old Babylonian, along with the closely related dialect Mariotic, is more innovative than Old Assyrian and Eblaite. For instance, the form "lu-prus" ('I will decide') first appeared in Old Babylonian instead of the older "la-prus". Old Babylonian was the language of King Hammurabi and his code, which is one of the oldest collections of laws in the world.
The Code of Hammurabi is written in the if-then form, consisting of 282 edicts that range from family law to professional contracts and administrative law. It established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice. The Code also introduced the concept of innocent until proven guilty.
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The code includes harsh punishments
The Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, includes many harsh punishments. The code consists of 282 rules that established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice. Hammurabi's Code was carved onto a massive, finger-shaped black stone stele (pillar) that was looted by invaders and rediscovered in 1901. The stele now resides in the Louvre Museum.
The punishments outlined in the code are often harsh and can include physical mutilation or death. For example, if a man's wife caused her husband to be killed, the code states that the woman shall be impaled. If a man committed incest with his daughter, the code calls for him to be banished from the city. In another example, if a man betrothed a maiden to his son and then lay with her himself, the code states that the man shall be strangled and the maiden shall be cast into the water.
The Code of Hammurabi also includes provisions for false accusations and false witness. If a man accuses another of laying a spell upon him but cannot prove it, the accused shall go to the sacred river and plunge into it. If the river conquers him, the accuser can take possession of his house. If the river shows the accused's innocence and he is saved, the accuser shall be put to death.
The code also addresses robbery and theft. If a man practices robbery and is captured, he shall be put to death. If a man steals goods from a temple or house, he shall be put to death, and whoever receives the stolen property shall also be put to death. The code also outlines different standards of justice for the three classes of Babylonian society: the propertied class, freedmen, and slaves. For example, a doctor's fee for curing a severe wound would vary depending on the social status of the patient.
While the Code of Hammurabi includes harsh punishments, it is also one of the earliest examples of an accused person being considered innocent until proven guilty. The code's influence can be seen in the Mosaic Law, and it is regarded as an important contribution to the history of law.
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Hammurabi was concerned with the welfare of his subjects
Hammurabi's Code of Laws covered various aspects of life in ancient Babylon, including economic provisions, family law, criminal law, and civil law. The penalties outlined in the code varied according to the status of the offenders and the circumstances of the offenses, indicating a nuanced understanding of justice. Hammurabi's Code also introduced the concept of innocent until proven guilty, a significant advancement in the history of law.
The king's concern for his subjects can be seen in the harsh punishments outlined in his code, which aimed to deter crimes and maintain social order. For example, the code prescribed the removal of the guilty party's tongue, hands, breasts, eye, or ear for certain offenses. While these punishments may seem extreme by modern standards, they reflect Hammurabi's desire to protect his subjects from harm and ensure a stable society.
Hammurabi's letters and commissions provide further evidence of his concern for his subjects. In his letters, he frequently referred to himself as his people's shepherd, suggesting a sense of responsibility and care for their well-being. Additionally, he commissioned extensive construction works, indicating a commitment to improving the infrastructure of his kingdom.
Hammurabi's Code of Laws has had a lasting impact, influencing legal systems in the ancient world and beyond. It has been admired for its fairness and respect for the rule of law, and Hammurabi is regarded as an important figure in the history of law. The Code of Hammurabi's enduring legacy is a testament to Hammurabi's successful rule and his concern for the welfare of his subjects.
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Frequently asked questions
The Code of Hammurabi is a Babylonian legal text composed during 1755–1750 BC. It is the longest, best-organized, and best-preserved legal text from the ancient Near East.
Hammurabi was the sixth king in the Babylonian dynasty, which ruled in central Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) from c. 1894 to 1595 B.C.
The Code of Hammurabi includes 282 edicts written in if-then form. It includes economic provisions, family law, criminal law, and civil law.
The Code of Hammurabi was rediscovered in 1901 at the site of Susa in present-day Iran. It was inscribed on a basalt stele that was looted by invaders.
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