Not only was Hammurabi a wise and just king, he was also a prolific conqueror. (Law #104). Written in the dominant language at the time, the Akkadian language, the code provided a legal framework for the exchange of goods and services in the ancient city-state of Babylon. After Jacques de Morgan spectacular discovery, the stele of Hammurabi was sent to the famous Parisian museum, the Louvre. The Prologue of the Code of Hammurabi (the first 305 inscribed squares on the stele) is on such a tablet, also at the Louvre (Inv #AO 10237). As a matter of fact, it was around the Elamite capital of Susa that French archaeologist and mining engineer Jean-Jacques de Morgan (1857-1924) discovered the only surviving slab of Hammurabi. Hammurabi’s name translates into “great family” in the Akkadian language. The Code consisted of 282 laws, with punishments that varied based on social status (slaves, free men, and property owners). He conquered several city-states such as Mari, Larsa and Eshunna. Today, the ancient city of Babylon is all submerged below a massive groundwater, leaving very little in terms of ruins. "Code of Hammurabi." Early estimates pegged the number of missing laws at 34, however the exact number is still not determined and only 30 have been discovered so far. The temples and obelisks that he built during his reign were considered very impressive for their time. However, if the deceased patient is from the slave class, then the doctor is required to pay a financial compensation to the family of the slave. an advance business society also does this. A very important point worth noting about the Hammurabi Code is the “lex talionis” doctrine (the “Law of Retaliation”). Home; Home. The slab has the 2.5-foot carving of a man standing, most likely Hammurabi. It greatly influenced a total dependence on the power of their one ruler, and it was a conscious effort to exalt the king as the source, the only source, of The Code of Hammurabi was one of the only sets of laws in the ancient Near East and also one of the first forms of law. The king put together a written set of legal code that contained 282 rules. #22: If anyone is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to death. The process took about a year or so to complete. (Revue historique. Hammurabi’s Code is one of the most famous examples of the ancient precept of “lex talionis,” or law of retribution, a form of retaliatory justice commonly associated with the saying “an eye for an eye.” Under this system, if a man broke the bone of one his equals, his own bone would be broken in return. He expanded Babylon and united the southern Mesopotamia. It consists of 282 laws, most concerning punishment. The Codes of Hammurabi . Lewis and Clark Expedition: Summary, Team, Challenges, and Importance, The Boston Massacre: The American Revolution, Julius Caesar: History, Accomplishments and Facts. All Rights Reserved. Once the text was brought to life, the Hammurabi became synonymous with legal codes. Hammurabi’s code, a fine example of the “an eye for an eye” mentality of justice, was established in order to please the gods he worshipped. linda, Your email address will not be published. The purpose of the Legal Code of Hammurabi was to use political power to create common bonds among the diverse people of the society. The Amorites are believed to have hailed from western part of present-day Syria. Meaning of the Hammurabi Code. How do we know about the Code of Hammurabi? The criminal law depends largely on the ancient tradition of appropriate retaliation. Scholars have discovered that the ancient region of Mesopotamia had written laws prior to the Hammurabi’s Code. [23] Women could also receive punishments that their male counterparts would not, as men were permitted to have affairs with their servants and slaves, whereas married women would be harshly punished for committing adultery. Historians believe that the stele was part of several items looted by the Elamite king Shutruk-Nahhunte from Hammurabi’s descendants. Our current generation came to know of the Hammurabi’s Codes from the carvings on top a large black pillar, which was discovered in the early 1900s. Other notable achievements of Hammurabi came in the sheer scale of the social and economic projects he rolled out. It greatly influenced a total dependence on the power of their one ruler, and it was a conscious effort to exalt the king as the source of earthly powers. Classes – the upper class, non-slaves and slaves and reproductive behavior,! 15 ] these codes originate from similar cultures in a fair and just king, Hammurabi most likely became at! 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