Code of Hammurabi Inscribed

Setting the scene

By 1754 BCE, Hammurabi was king of Babylon, having conquered much of Mesopotamia to create the first Babylonian Empire. Mesopotamia had a long tradition of law codes—Ur-Nammu of Ur (2100 BCE) and Lipit-Ishtar of Isin (1930 BCE) had issued earlier codes. Hammurabi sought to unify his diverse empire and legitimize his rule by presenting himself as a just king appointed by the gods to establish order. The code was inscribed on a 7.5-foot diorite stele, topped with an image of Hammurabi receiving authority from the sun god Shamash.

What happened

The Code of Hammurabi, inscribed around 1754 BCE, contains 282 laws covering criminal law, family law, property, and commerce. It is famous for 'lex talionis'—'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth'—though this applied only between equals. Punishments varied by social class—harming a noble brought harsher penalties than harming a commoner or slave. The code regulated wages, prices, and professional standards for doctors, builders, and others. It also included the presumption of innocence and the right to present evidence. The stele was publicly displayed in Babylon so people could read the laws.

Why it still matters

The Code of Hammurabi is the most complete and best-preserved ancient law code, providing invaluable insight into Mesopotamian society. It influenced later legal traditions, including Mosaic law. The code demonstrates the principle that law should be written, public, and apply (unequally) to all—a foundation of the rule of law. The stele was taken as booty to Susa (Iran) in 1158 BCE and discovered there by French archaeologists in 1901; it is now in the Louvre. Hammurabi's code established the idea that kings are responsible for justice, a concept that persists in legal philosophy today.

Background

The code influenced later ideas about written law and justice. Even centuries later, this episode remains a reference point for how empires rise, fracture, and transform.