Cameron Miranda
The Code of Ur-Nammu, written between 2100 and 2050 BCE, is the oldest known surviving law code from Mesopotamia. It was written in Sumerian on clay tablets and is arranged in a casuistic form of IF (crime) THEN (punishment). The code reveals a glimpse of the societal structure during Ur's Third Dynasty, where members of society belonged to one of two strata: the lu or free person, or the slave. The Code of Ur-Nammu was purportedly written by King Ur-Nammu of Ur, although the author is still somewhat under dispute. Another significant law code from Mesopotamia is the Code of Hammurabi, which was established by Hammurabi, the sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon. This code is considered one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, with 282 rules addressing various aspects of life in ancient Mesopotamia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Ur-Nammu |
| Title | King of Ur |
| Dynasty | Sumerian |
| Reign | 2047-2030 BCE |
| Law Code | Oldest known surviving law code |
| Language | Sumerian |
| Format | Cuneiform tablets |
| Contents | Strong statements of royal power, societal structure, laws on fines, divorce, sorcery, adultery, etc. |
| Date | c. 2100-2050 BCE |
| Location | City of Ur |
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What You'll Learn
The Code of Ur-Nammu was the first Mesopotamian law collection to be discovered
The Code of Ur-Nammu is the oldest known surviving law code from Mesopotamia. It is written on tablets in the Sumerian language and dates back to c. 2100–2050 BC. The code was discovered in Iraq in 1948 and was translated by the scholar Samuel Noah Kramer in 1952. The first recension of the code, an Old Babylonian period copy in two fragments, was found at Nippur, in modern-day Iraq. These fragments are now held at the Istanbul Archaeology Museums.
The code was written by the Sumerian king Ur-Nammu or his son Shulgi of Ur. The preface of the code directly credits the laws to King Ur-Nammu of Ur (2112-2095 BC). However, some historians believe they should be ascribed to his son Shulgi. The code contains strong statements of royal power, such as "I eliminated enmity, violence, and cries for justice." It reveals a glimpse of the societal structure during the Sumerian Renaissance, with the king at the top, followed by the "lu" or free people, and then slaves.
The laws in the code are arranged in a casuistic form of "if (crime), then (punishment)", a pattern followed in nearly all later codes. It includes fines for bodily damage, such as knocking out a tooth or cutting off a limb, and also covers divorce, sorcery, and the flight of slaves. The code also reveals the societal structure of the time, with provisions for women, who progressed from daughter (dumu-mi) to wife (dam) and then widow (nu-ma-su), who could remarry.
The discovery of the Code of Ur-Nammu was significant as it provided insight into the legal system and societal structure of ancient Mesopotamia. It also influenced later law codes, such as the Code of Hammurabi, which was discovered in 1901 and is the best-preserved legal text from the ancient Near East. These codes shared similarities, such as prologues and epilogues, and the "one crime, one punishment" principle.
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The Code of Ur-Nammu is the oldest known surviving law code
The prologue of the code, typical of Mesopotamian law codes, invokes the deities Nanna and Utu for Ur-Nammu's kingship and decrees "equity in the land". The code also reveals societal structure during Ur's Third Dynasty, with the king, or "great man", at the top, followed by the lu or free person, and the slave at the bottom. A woman's status changed from daughter (dumu-mi) to wife (dam), and if she outlived her husband, she became a widow (nu-ma-su).
The Code of Ur-Nammu is believed to have influenced later law codes, such as the Code of Hammurabi, which was written by Hammurabi, the sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon. The Code of Hammurabi is one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, consisting of 282 rules that established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments. It is written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian and was discovered in 1901 at Susa in present-day Iran. The Code of Hammurabi also includes harsh punishments, such as the removal of body parts for certain crimes, and upholds the "one crime, one punishment" principle.
While the Code of Ur-Nammu is the oldest known surviving law code, it is important to note that the Code of Urukagina (c. 24th century BCE) is believed to be the earliest Mesopotamian law code, although it only exists in fragments today.
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The Code of Ur-Nammu was written in Sumerian
The Code of Ur-Nammu is the oldest known surviving law code from Mesopotamia, written in the Sumerian language c. 2100–2050 BC. It is written on tablets in cuneiform script, with the first recension of the code (Ni 3191) discovered in the form of two fragments found at Nippur, in what is now Iraq. These fragments were translated by Samuel Noah Kramer in 1952 and are currently held at the Istanbul Archaeology Museums.
The Code of Ur-Nammu is attributed to King Ur-Nammu of Ur, who ruled from 2112 to 2095 BC. However, the author who had the laws written down is still a matter of debate, with some scholars attributing them to Ur-Nammu's son Shulgi. The code consists of a prologue and 57 laws, of which only the prologue and five laws were discernible from the fragments discovered by Kramer.
The content of the code reveals information about the societal structure during Ur's Third Dynasty. Below the "great man" or king (lugal), all members of society were either free people (lu) or slaves (male: arad, female: geme). The laws are structured in a casuistic form, with a crime followed by the corresponding punishment, a pattern followed in many subsequent codes. For example, if a man accused another man's wife of adultery and the river ordeal proved her innocent, the accuser had to pay one-third of a mina of silver.
The Code of Ur-Nammu is a significant discovery, providing insights into the legal and societal structures of ancient Mesopotamia. Despite being the oldest surviving law code from the region, it demonstrates the existence of earlier law codes, such as the Code of Urukagina, and the development of legal traditions. Later codes, such as the Code of Hammurabi, written in Akkadian, share similarities with the Code of Ur-Nammu, suggesting a consistent underlying legal system.
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The Code of Ur-Nammu was written c. 2100-2050 BCE
The Code of Ur-Nammu, written c. 2100-2050 BCE, is the oldest known surviving law code from Mesopotamia. It is written in Sumerian on clay tablets in cuneiform script. The code is arranged in a casuistic form, with a crime followed by its punishment. This form is followed in nearly all later codes. The prologue invokes the deities for Ur-Nammu's kingship, Nanna and Utu, and decrees "equity in the land".
The code reveals the societal structure of Ur's Third Dynasty. Beneath the king, or "great man", all members of society were either a "lu" (free person) or a slave. A man's son was called a "dumu-nita" until he married and became a "gurus" (young man). A woman went from being a "dumu-mi" (daughter) to a "dam" (wife) and, if she outlived her husband, a "nu-ma-su" (widow).
The code instituted fines of monetary compensation for bodily damage, as opposed to the later lex talionis ('an eye for an eye') principle of Babylonian law. Murder, robbery, adultery, and rape were capital offenses. Other provisions include:
- If a man divorces his first-time wife, he must pay her one mina of silver.
- If he divorces a former widow, he must pay half a mina of silver.
- If a man accuses another man's wife of adultery, and the river ordeal proves her innocent, then the accuser must pay one-third of a mina of silver.
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The Code of Ur-Nammu was written on clay tablets
The Code of Ur-Nammu is the oldest known surviving law code from Mesopotamia, written in the Sumerian language on clay tablets around 2100–2050 BC. It is named after Ur-Nammu, the Sumerian king of Ur, who is credited with authoring the code. The clay tablets are divided into eight columns, four on the front and four on the back, with each column containing approximately 45 small, ruled spaces. The code was discovered in two fragments at Nippur, an ancient Sumerian city in modern-day Iraq, and was translated into English in 1952 by the renowned Assyriologist Samuel Noah Kramer.
The Code of Ur-Nammu is significant as it provides a glimpse into the ancient Sumerian society's concept of justice. It is arranged in a casuistic form, with crimes followed by their respective punishments, a pattern followed in many subsequent codes. The laws covered various topics, including witchcraft, the flight of slaves, bodily injuries, divorce, and accusations of sorcery and adultery.
The prologue, a standard feature of Mesopotamian law codes, invokes the deities Nanna and Utu and their role in establishing Ur-Nammu's kingship. It also decrees "equity in the land," reflecting Ur-Nammu's vision of law and order. Ur-Nammu presented himself as a father figure to his people, encouraging them to think of themselves as a family following the rules of a shared home.
While the Code of Ur-Nammu is the oldest surviving law code, it is believed that earlier law codes existed, such as the Code of Urukagina, which dates back to the 24th century BC. However, these earlier codes are only known through references in other ancient works, while the Code of Ur-Nammu has survived to a large extent. The discovery and translation of the Code of Ur-Nammu have provided valuable insights into the legal and societal structures of ancient Mesopotamia.
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Frequently asked questions
The first written laws in Mesopotamia were the Code of Ur-Nammu, dating from c. 2100-2050 BCE.
The author of the Code of Ur-Nammu is somewhat disputed. It was either written by King Ur-Nammu (r. 2047-2030 BCE) or his son Shulgi of Ur (r. 2029-1982 BCE).
The Code of Ur-Nammu dealt with matters such as witchcraft, the flight of slaves, and bodily injuries.
The Code of Ur-Nammu was written in cuneiform on clay tablets.
