Hammurabi's Code, one of history's oldest legal texts, was inscribed in Akkadian by King Hammurabi of Babylon in 1760 BCE. The king placed these laws on a large stone at the entrance of the Esagila temple, dedicated to the Babylonian god Marduk. According to Hammurabi, these laws were dictated to him by the god Shamash, giving them a divine status.
Vincent Scheil, an archaeologist, unearthed Hammurabi's Code in the Huzistan region of Iran in 1901, and it is now displayed at the Louvre Museum in France.
Comprising 282 clauses, with 33 between clauses 66 and 99 unreadable, the content of these missing clauses remains unknown. However, the rest have been deciphered. Interestingly, the number 13 is absent in the Code, likely due to its association with bad luck in Babylonian culture.
Hammurabi's Code offers insights into the use of medicinal plants and addresses issues related to finance, including the concept of minimum wage. It also provides detailed provisions on civil law, inheritance, commercial law, and criminal matters. For instance, Clause 148 discusses civil law, emphasizing support for an ailing spouse.
The legal text is particularly thorough in matters of criminal law, enumerating various offenses and their corresponding punishments. In cases lacking tangible evidence, the judgment or execution was left to the gods. This underscores the belief in divine intervention for matters beyond human proof.
While Hammurabi's Code reflects an early attempt at codifying laws, it falls short in terms of human rights. It's important to note that even as late as 1994, we lived in a world where Black and White individuals were segregated on buses. Nevertheless, when considering the clauses in a broader context, the Code can be seen as relatively progressive for its time. However, it does exhibit strong class distinctions, categorizing individuals into groups like free citizens, freedmen, slaves, and the king.
Contrary to popular belief, Hammurabi's Code was not the first written legal code in history. Codes such as those of Ur-Nammu (2050 BCE), Eshnunna (1930 BCE), and Lipit-Ishtar (1870 BCE) precede it. Nevertheless, it stands as one of the best-preserved ancient legal codes.
The "eye for an eye" principle is often associated with Hammurabi's Code, but a closer examination reveals nuances, particularly when social class comes into play. Some clauses grant significant privileges to the wealthy class. For example, while Clause 196 states that if one person blinds another, the same will be done in return, Clause 198 stipulates that if a person blinds his slave, he pays only half the compensation.
The Code also delves into matters of slavery, specifying rules regarding the purchase of male and female slaves. For instance, if a purchased male slave falls ill within a month, the buyer can return him and receive a refund (Clause 278).
In spite of its shortcomings, Hammurabi's Code is a testament to its era's attempt at justice. It influenced subsequent societies and their legal systems. The introductory statement, "To prevent the strong from oppressing the weak," highlights Hammurabi's aspiration for a just rule, though some historians argue that the Code might have been a propaganda tool to glorify the king.
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