Files
factbase-ancient-history/legal-codes/code-of-hammurabi.md
2026-02-22 21:35:29 +00:00

129 lines
4.9 KiB
Markdown
Raw Blame History

This file contains ambiguous Unicode characters
This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.
<!-- factbase:31de03 -->
# Code of Hammurabi
# Code of Hammurabi
## Overview
The Code of Hammurabi (~1754 BCE) is one of the most complete and well-known ancient legal codes, inscribed on a basalt stele and containing 282 laws governing Babylonian society.
## Key Facts
- Date: ~1754 BCE
- Issuer: Hammurabi, King of Babylon
- Language: Akkadian (Babylonian dialect)
- Medium: Basalt stele, 2.25 m tall
- Current location: Louvre Museum, Paris (discovered at Susa, 1901)
## Structure
- Prologue: Hammurabi as divinely appointed shepherd of his people
- 282 laws organized by topic
- Epilogue: Blessings for those who uphold the laws, curses for those who deface the stele [^1]
## Legal Principles
- *Lex talionis*: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" (with class-based modifications)
- Three social classes: *awilum* (free), *mushkenum* (dependent), *wardum* (slave)
- Covers: Property, trade, family law, labor, personal injury, agriculture
- Presumption of innocence in some cases; trial by ordeal in others [^2]
## Significance
- Not the earliest code (preceded by Code of Ur-Nammu) but the most complete
- Provides detailed picture of Old Babylonian society
- Influenced later Near Eastern legal traditions
---
[^1]: Roth, M.T. *Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor* (1997)
[^2]: Driver, G.R. & Miles, J.C. *The Babylonian Laws* (Oxford, 19521955)
---
## Review Queue
<!-- factbase:review -->
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Date: ~1754 BCE" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Issuer: Hammurabi, King of Babylon" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Language: Akkadian (Babylonian dialect)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Medium: Basalt stele, 2.25 m tall" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Current location: Louvre Museum, Paris (discovered at Susa, 1901)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Prologue: Hammurabi as divinely appointed shepherd of his people" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "282 laws organized by topic" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Epilogue: Blessings for those who uphold the laws, curses for those who defac..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "*Lex talionis*: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" (with class-based mo..." - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Three social classes: *awilum* (free), *mushkenum* (dependent), *wardum* (slave)" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Covers: Property, trade, family law, labor, personal injury, agriculture" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Presumption of innocence in some cases; trial by ordeal in others [^2]" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 28: "Not the earliest code (preceded by Code of Ur-Nammu) but the most complete" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 29: "Provides detailed picture of Old Babylonian society" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 30: "Influenced later Near Eastern legal traditions" - when was this true?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Date: ~1754 BCE" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Issuer: Hammurabi, King of Babylon" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Language: Akkadian (Babylonian dialect)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Medium: Basalt stele, 2.25 m tall" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 14: "Current location: Louvre Museum, Paris (discovered at Susa, 1901)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Prologue: Hammurabi as divinely appointed shepherd of his people" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "282 laws organized by topic" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 22: "*Lex talionis*: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" (with class-based mo..." - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Three social classes: *awilum* (free), *mushkenum* (dependent), *wardum* (slave)" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Covers: Property, trade, family law, labor, personal injury, agriculture" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 28: "Not the earliest code (preceded by Code of Ur-Nammu) but the most complete" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 29: "Provides detailed picture of Old Babylonian society" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 30: "Influenced later Near Eastern legal traditions" - what is the source?
>
- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 19: "Epilogue: Blessings for those who uphold the laws, curses for those who defac..." - Roth source from 1997 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
>
- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 25: "Presumption of innocence in some cases; trial by ordeal in others [^2]" - Driver source from 1952 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
>