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The Stele of Hammurabi, also known as the Law Code Stele of King Hammurabi, is a basalt stele discovered in 1901 at the ancient site of Susa in present-day Iran. The stele contains the Code of Hammurabi, a Babylonian legal text composed during 1755–1750 BC or 1792–1750 BC. The code consists of 282 laws, with the largest category focusing on marriage and family. The stele is believed to be a public monument and a codification of law, expressing the king's authority and the importance of his rule. It is considered one of the most popular objects at the Louvre, where it is currently displayed, providing valuable insights into ancient Babylonian culture and law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of creation | Between 1792 and 1750 BC (middle chronology) or 1755-1750 BC |
| Date of discovery | 1901 |
| Place of discovery | Ancient site of Susa, in modern-day Iran |
| Discovered by | Swiss Egyptologist Gustave Jéquier |
| First translated by | French Dominican priest and Assyriologist Jean-Vincent Scheil |
| Current location | Louvre Museum, Paris |
| Composition | Basalt |
| Height | 2.25 metres (7 ft 4+1⁄2 in) |
| Circumference | 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) at the summit and 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) at the base |
| Language | Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian |
| Number of laws | 282 |
| Topics covered | Marriage and family, slander, trade, adultery, agricultural issues, irrigation, family life |
| Purpose | A piece of political propaganda to win the hearts and minds of citizens of formerly autonomous city-states |
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What You'll Learn
The Stele of Hammurabi was discovered in 1901
The Stele of Hammurabi, also known as the Law Code Stele of King Hammurabi, was discovered between December 1901 and January 1902 in the ancient Elamite city of Susa, located in present-day Khuzestan Province, Iran. It was excavated by the French Archaeological Mission, under the direction of Jacques de Morgan. The discovery was first reported by Father Jean-Vincent Scheil in the fourth volume of the Reports of the Delegation to Persia (Mémoires de la Délégation en Perse).
The stele was found in three large fragments and was reconstructed. It is 2.25 metres (7 feet 4+1⁄2 inches) tall, with a circumference of 165 cm (5 feet 5 inches) at the summit and 190 cm (6 feet 3 inches) at the base. The top of the stele features an image in relief of Hammurabi with Shamash, the Babylonian sun god and god of justice. Below the relief are about 4,130 lines of cuneiform text, with one-fifth containing a prologue and epilogue, and the remaining four-fifths containing the laws.
The Stele of Hammurabi is a Babylonian legal text composed during 1755–1750 BC. It is the longest, best-organised, and best-preserved legal text from the ancient Near East. It is written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian and contains 282 laws. The stele is believed to have been created towards the end of Hammurabi's reign, as deduced from the list of his achievements mentioned in the prologue.
The discovery of the stele has provided valuable insights into Babylonian culture and history. Copies of the text were created during and after Hammurabi's reign, and it continued to be studied by Mesopotamian scribes for over a millennium. The laws deal with various aspects of society, including agriculture, irrigation, and family life. The stele is now displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris, with replicas in several institutions worldwide, including the United Nations headquarters in New York City and the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
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It is a 2.25-metre pillar
The Stele of Hammurabi, also known as the Law Code Stele of King Hammurabi, is a 2.25-metre (7 ft 4+1/2 in) pillar. It was discovered in 1901 at the site of Susa in present-day Iran, and it is believed to have been created around 1100 BCE. The stele is made of black basalt and features a relief portrait of Hammurabi with Shamash, the Babylonian sun god and god of justice, at the top. The relief portion of the stele may have been reworked over time, particularly the beards of Hammurabi and Shamash.
The pillar has a circumference of 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) at the summit and 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) at the base. It is inscribed with the Code of Hammurabi, which consists of nearly 4,000 lines of cuneiform text, including over 300 laws. The laws are written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian and cover various topics, including marriage and family, agriculture, irrigation, and family life. The Code of Hammurabi is the longest, best-organized, and best-preserved legal text from the ancient Near East.
The Stele of Hammurabi is not just a legal document but also a symbolic expression of the king's authority and a form of political propaganda. It was likely placed in a public place, such as a temple, to be viewed by the citizens of Babylon. The laws were also copied and studied by Mesopotamian scribes for over a millennium, demonstrating their enduring significance in ancient society.
Today, the original stele resides in the Louvre Museum in Paris, with replicas displayed in various institutions, including the United Nations headquarters in New York City and the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. The discovery and preservation of the Stele of Hammurabi provide valuable insights into the legal, cultural, and social aspects of ancient Babylonian society.
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It is the oldest written code of laws known to mankind
The Code of Hammurabi is a Babylonian legal text composed during 1755–1750 BC, during the reign of Hammurabi, the sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon. It is the longest, best-organized, and best-preserved legal text from the ancient Near East. The original stele, which dates back almost 4,000 years, stands in the Louvre in Paris and was found in 1901. The text was copied and studied by Mesopotamian scribes for over a millennium. The stele is the oldest written code of laws known to mankind.
The primary copy of the text is inscribed on a basalt stele 2.25 m (7 ft 4+1⁄2 in) tall. The stele was rediscovered in 1901 at the site of Susa in present-day Iran, where it had been taken as plunder six hundred years after its creation. The stele was found in three large fragments and reconstructed. It is decorated with an image of Hammurabi with Shamash, the Babylonian sun god and god of justice. Below the image are about 4,130 lines of cuneiform text: one-fifth contains a prologue and epilogue, while the remaining four-fifths contain the laws.
The Code of Hammurabi is an early example of fundamental law and government regulation. The laws deal with a range of topics, including slander, trade, and adultery, as well as agricultural and irrigation issues, and family life. The largest category of laws in the code focuses on marriage and family. For example, parents arranged marriages for their children, and after the marriage, the parties involved signed a marriage contract; without it, no one was considered legally married. While the husband provided a bridal payment to the bride's parents, the woman's parents were responsible for a dowry to the new husband.
The Code of Hammurabi also includes the principle of presumption of innocence, with the first two laws prescribing punishments for unsubstantiated accusations. Written evidence was highly valued, especially in matters of contract. The laws also recognized the importance of the intentions of a defendant. The establishment of the code on public stelae was intended to increase access to justice.
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The Code of Hammurabi is a Babylonian legal text
The primary copy of the text is inscribed on a basalt stele, a tall, carved object, that stands 2.25 metres (7 feet 4+1⁄2 inches) tall. The stele was rediscovered in 1901 at Susa, an ancient site in present-day Iran, where it had been taken as plunder six hundred years after its creation. The top of the stele features a relief image of Hammurabi with Shamash, the Babylonian sun god, and god of justice. Below this relief are about 4,130 lines of cuneiform text, with one-fifth dedicated to a prologue and epilogue, and the remaining four-fifths containing the laws.
The Code of Hammurabi consists of 282 case laws, including economic provisions, family law, criminal law, and civil law. The laws are expressed in a casuistic format, with conditional sentences detailing the case and the remedy. For example, if a man builds a house, and it falls on the owner, the builder is put to death. This "eye for an eye" principle, also known as lex talionis, is a well-known concept from the Biblical text, which the stele predates.
The laws were not written by the king but were based on legal precedents and judgments that had already been made. The prologue of the code asserts that Hammurabi was chosen by the gods, and his authority came from Shamash. The laws are believed to have been copied and studied by Mesopotamian scribes for over a millennium, with copies found dating from one thousand years after the stele's creation.
The Code of Hammurabi provides valuable insights into Babylonian culture and society, revealing what was important to them and the points of tension within their society. It is considered a significant document in the history of law and has replicas displayed in various institutions worldwide, including the headquarters of the United Nations in New York City and the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
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The Code consists of 282 laws
The Code of Hammurabi is a Babylonian legal text composed between 1755 and 1750 BC. It is the longest, best-preserved, and best-organised ancient legal text from the Near East. The Code consists of 282 laws, which are inscribed on a 2.25-metre-tall basalt stele. The stele was discovered in 1901 at Susa, in present-day Iran, and it is now displayed in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Code of Hammurabi covers a range of topics, including social structures, economic structures, and the operation of the judicial system. For example, Law 196 states that "if a free person puts out the eye of another free person, that person's eye shall be put out". Similarly, Law 197 states that "if a free person breaks the bone of another free person, that person's bone shall be broken". These laws follow the principle of "an eye for an eye", demonstrating Hammurabi's belief that punishment should fit the crime.
Other laws in the code concern marriage and family life. For instance, parents arranged marriages for their children, and a marriage contract was signed after the match was made. Additionally, the husband provided a bridal payment to the bride's parents, while the bride's parents were responsible for a dowry. These laws reflect the patriarchal nature of Babylonian society, where women had fewer privileges and rights than men.
The Code of Hammurabi also includes laws related to perjury and false accusations. For example, Law 3 states that "if a free person commits perjury during a murder trial and the perjury is discovered, that person shall be executed". Similarly, Law 20 states that "if a free person accuses a priestess or a married woman of illicit sexual relations but cannot prove the charge, that free person shall be publicly flogged and half of that free person's head shall be shaved".
The laws in the Code of Hammurabi provide valuable insights into Babylonian culture and society, revealing what was important to them. They also showcase the advanced nature of Mesopotamian civilisation, with its complex legal system and emphasis on law as a founding principle.
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Frequently asked questions
The Stele of Hammurabi, also known as the Law Code Stele, was created between 1792 and 1750 BC.
The Stele of Hammurabi was discovered in 1901 by Swiss Egyptologist Gustave Jéquier at the ancient site of Susa in modern-day Iran.
The Stele of Hammurabi is currently located in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
