The Oldest Code of Laws in the World / The code of laws promulgated by Hammurabi, King of Babylon, B.C. 2285-2242

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

17150

Title

The Oldest Code of Laws in the World / The code of laws promulgated by Hammurabi, King of Babylon, B.C. 2285-2242

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This 1903 translation presents Hammurabi's ancient Babylonian legal code, a monumental collection of laws governing property, family, commerce, and justice in Mesopotamia. Offering a literal English rendering of the original cuneiform inscriptions, the text reveals the social hierarchy, economic practices, and judicial procedures of the third millennium B.C., serving as a vital link to the historical roots of Western legal tradition.

Summary up to 500 words

The Code of Hammurabi, promulgated by the King of Babylon circa 2285–2242 B.C., stands as one of history's most significant legal monuments. Translated by C.H.W. Johns from the original black diorite stele discovered at Susa, this text details the judicial decisions that shaped society in Canaan and influenced later Hebrew traditions. The code is divided into distinct sections addressing a vast array of civil and criminal matters. It begins with laws against witchcraft and perjury, prescribing death for false accusers or those who bribe witnesses. The text rigorously protects temple and palace property, imposing capital punishment for theft from these sacred institutions. The code meticulously regulates commerce, defining penalties for theft based on the thief's social status; a gentleman's theft incurs a thirtyfold penalty, while a poor man's theft results in death if restitution is impossible. It establishes strict rules for lost property, requiring witnesses to verify ownership and punishing false claims with death. The laws governing slavery are equally detailed, distinguishing between palace slaves, poor men's slaves, and free citizens. Slaves who marry free women gain freedom for their children, and masters are obligated to ransom captured slaves or pay fines for their injury. Family law is a central theme, providing comprehensive guidelines for marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Widows are protected from eviction by their sons and retain their marriage portions, while daughters receive specific shares of their father's estate, whether as votaries, concubines, or wives. The code addresses the rights of wet nurses, adoptive parents, and the status of children born to slaves versus free women. Perhaps the most famous aspect of the code is its principle of retaliation, often summarized as "an eye for an eye." This lex talionis applies strictly to individuals of equal social standing: a gentleman who blinds another loses an eye, and a poor man who does so pays a silver fine. However, the code maintains a rigid class structure; a gentleman striking a poor man pays a fine, while a slave striking a free man loses an ear. Medical liability is also defined by class, with doctors facing severe penalties, including the loss of hands, if they cause the death or blindness of a free patient, but only financial restitution for injuries to slaves. Finally, the code holds builders and boatmen accountable for the safety of their work, prescribing death for a builder whose negligent house collapses and kills its owner, while requiring boatmen to replace lost vessels at their own expense. This ancient legal framework offers a profound insight into the values, fears, and social organization of ancient Babylon.

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Categories

• History
• Law