Skip to content

Unexplainable.net

Watching The World Change

  • The Sci-Fi Job Market of 2030 Technology Articles
  • Russian Scientists Break the Ice in Antarctica Technology Articles
  • Ancient Sun Gods and Goddesses Ancient Civilizations
  • Seeing Distant Galaxy May Be Disbelieving NASA Articles
  • February 2009 Alerts: Archeology Festival in Cardiff Information and Theories
  • UFO Video – Kent-UK- UFO Caught on Security Camera Unexplainable Video Library
  • Scientists Test DNA Nano-Spider Technology Articles
  • What Are Herbal Compresses and Poultices? Information and Theories

The Ins and Outs of Hammurabi’s Code

Posted on October 3, 2008 By jim No Comments on The Ins and Outs of Hammurabi’s Code
Mooker

As ruler of a vast empire, Hammurabi set out to create a new code of Babylonian law, which would later become the Code of Hammurabi. Written on a stele (large monument made out of stone), the rules were situated in a public place so that all of the inhabitants could see , all of this despite many of them being unable to read. Over time, the stele was later stolen by the Elamites and taken to their capital in Susa. In 1901, it was rediscovered and is now part of the Louvre Museum collection in Paris.

The Code of Hammurabi consisted of 282 laws stretched across 12 tablets that scribes diligently worked on to create. Unlike early laws of that time, it was written in Akkadian , the everyday language used in Babylon. This meant that any literate individual of the city was able to read the law.

As for the structure of the code, each offense was cleared laid out and given a specific punishment. In comparison to modern standards, the punishments are often viewed as being too harsh. A lot of consequences ended in death, mutilation (such as the chopping off of hands), or followed in line with the “Law of Retaliation” , “eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” However, there was great significance to putting the laws into writing. This meant that they were solid and went beyond any power that a king possessed.

Another milestone associated with the code was that it served as one of the earliest examples of people tinkering with the presumption of innocence. The accused and accuser were given the chance to provide evidence in their defense.

At the top of the stele, a carving depicts Hammurabi receiving the laws from the god Shamash. A preface states that the gods choose Hammurabi to bring the laws to his people.

Revisiting Babylon’s Downfall and the Fate of the Code of Law

Those who succeeded Hammurabi are blamed for the downfall of the Babylonian Empire, as military pressure from the Hittites breathed down their neck. Around 1600 BC, the Hittites were successful in sacking Babylon. However, they did not assume control of the city-state, as this honor went to the Kassites, who would later conquer Babylon and continue to rule Mesopotamia for the next 400 years. The Babylonian culture was not at a complete loss. Some parts were adopted into the Kassite way of life, including Hammurabi’s code of laws.

For a sampling of the Code of Hammurabi, a few laws are mentioned below. For additional examples of the laws, read “Taking a Closer Look at the Hammurabi’s Laws.”

” If any one be guilty of incest with his mother after his father, both shall be burned.”

” If a man marry a woman, and she bear sons to him; if then this woman die, then shall her father have no claim on her dowry; this belongs to her sons.”

” If a State slave or the slave of a freed man marry the daughter of a free man, and children are born, the master of the slave shall have no right to enslave the children of the free.”

” If a man adopt a child and to his name as son, and rear him, this grown son can not be demanded back again.”

” If he break another man’s bone, his bone shall be broken.”

” If he put out the eye of a freed man, or break the bone of a freed man, he shall pay one gold mina.”

” If a man knock out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out.”

” If he knock out the teeth of a freed man, he shall pay one-third of a gold mina.”

” If any one strike the body of a man higher in rank than he, he shall receive sixty blows with an ox-whip in public.”

Ancient Civilizations

Post navigation

Previous Post: Taking a Closer Look at Hammurabi’s Laws
Next Post: The Rise and Fall of Ancient Babylonian Power

Related Posts

  • Ancient Roman Dining: Breakfast and Lunch Ancient Civilizations
  • Characters Behind Ancient Quotes , Tertullian & Terence Ancient Civilizations
  • Year of the Four Emperors: Galba and Otho Ancient Civilizations
  • Ancient Weapons III Ancient Civilizations
  • Ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses 1 Ancient Civilizations
  • Ancient Figures of India Ancient Civilizations

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Mahavatar Babaji: The Yogi alive for 2000 years
  • Spirituality and science conflict
  • Conspiracies and myths about spirituality
  • Know your Ki: Reiki
  • 10 amazing plants to promote spirituality and positivity

Recent Comments

No comments to show.

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • June 2018
  • February 2018
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • February 2016
  • September 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • July 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • June 2005
  • May 2005
  • April 2005
  • March 2005
  • February 2005
  • January 2005
  • December 2004
  • November 2004
  • October 2004
  • September 2004
  • August 2004
  • July 2004
  • June 2004
  • May 2004
  • April 2004
  • March 2004
  • February 2004
  • January 2004
  • December 2003
  • November 2003
  • October 2003

Categories

  • Ancient Civilizations
  • Benjamin Fulford Story
  • Cryptology and Monsters
  • Eating Healthy
  • Ghost And Demons
  • Information and Theories
  • Mars Coverage
  • Meditation And Spirituality
  • Mysteries
  • NASA Articles
  • Other Exciting News
  • Personal Accounts
  • Pictures And Multimedia
  • Political Conspiracies
  • Recent Submissions
  • Religion Articles
  • Self Improvement
  • Simply Unexplainable
  • Space and Astrology
  • Technology Articles
  • True Stories
  • UFOs and Aliens
  • Unexplainable Video Library
  • Unexplainable Weather
  • Ghostly Modes of Transportation Ghost And Demons
  • Wiccan Holidays and Celebrations , Imbolc, Ostara, & Beltane Religion Articles
  • Religious Figure Facts: St. Philip Neri , The Oratory Religion Articles
  • The Sixth Crusade (1228 to 1229) Information and Theories
  • Fuel from E. Coli? Technology Articles
  • Examiner tells Vancouver audience secret messages not created “by chance alone” Technology Articles
  • 17 ways of power Information and Theories
  • Ghost Ship Legends , The Flying Dutchman Ghost And Demons

Copyright © 2025 Unexplainable.net.

Powered by PressBook News Dark theme