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| image =P1050771 F0182 Louvre code Hammurabi bas Code Hammourabi Bas-relief Sb8 rwk.JPGjpg| image_size =160px235px| caption =Hammurabi (standing), depicted as receiving his royal insignia from [[Shamash]](or possibly [[Marduk]]). Hammurabi holds his hands over his mouth as a sign of prayer<ref>{{cite |title=Ancient Iraq by |first=Georges |last=Roux, Chapter 17 |author-link=Georges Roux |chapter=The Time of Confusion p. |page=266|url=https://books.google.es/books?id=klZX8B_RzzYC&pg=PA266 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |isbn=9780141938257}}</ref> (relief on the upper part of the stele of [[code of Hammurabi|Hammurabi's code of laws]]).| birth_date = ~c. 1810 BC| birth_place = [[Babylonia]]Babylon| death_date = 1750 BC [[middle chronology]]<small>(modern-day [[Jordan]] and [[Syria]])</small><BR>(aged c. 60)

'''Hammurabi''' ({{efn|[[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] : {{script|Xsux|𒄩𒄠𒈬𒊏𒁉}} ''Ḫa-am-mu-ra-bi'', from the [[Amorite language|Amorite]] ''ʻAmmurāpi'', ("the kinsman is a healer"), itself from ''ʻAmmu'', ("paternal kinsman", ) and ''Rāpi'', ("healer"; died c. )}} ({{circa|1810 BC|1750 BC}}) was the sixth [[Amorite]] king of [[Babylon]] (that is, of the [[First Babylonian Dynasty]], the Amorite Dynasty) reigning from 1792 BC to 1750 BC (according to the [[middle chronologyMiddle Chronology]] (1728 BC – 1686 BC ). He was preceded by his father, [[short chronologySin-Muballit]]<ref>See Arnold 2006, [http://books.google.com/books?id=nAemO6HmOgYC&pg=PA9#v=onepage&q=1792&f=false p. vii]who abdicated due to failing health. His date During his reign, he conquered the city-states of birth is around 1810 BC[[Elam]], see for example[[Larsa]], Van De Mieroop 2005[[Eshnunna]], and [http://books.google.com/books?id=GDr49Nd0jh4C&pg=PA1 p. 1[Mari, Syria|Mari]].</ref>). He became ousted [[Ishme-Dagan I]], the first king of the [[BabyloniaAssyria]]n Empire following the abdication of his father, and forced his son [[SinMut-MuballitAshkur]]to pay tribute, who had become very ill and died, extending Babylon's control over thereby bringing almost all of [[Mesopotamia]] by winning a series of wars against neighboring kingdomsunder Babylonian rule.<ref>{{cite book | last = Beck | first = Roger B. | authorlink last= Beck | coauthors first2= Linda |last2=Black, |first3=Larry S. |last3=Krieger, |first4=Phillip C. |last4=Naylor, |first5=Dahia Ibo |last5=Shabaka, | title = World History: Patterns of Interaction |url=https://books.google.es/books?id=pQRlSAAACAAJ | publisher = [[McDougal Littell ]] | year = 1999 | location = Evanston, IL | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-395-87274-X | oclc = 39762695 }}</ref> Although his empire controlled all of Mesopotamia at the time of his death, his successors were unable to maintain his empire. Hammurabi is best known for having issued the set of laws called [[Code of Hammurabi|Hammurabi's ]], which he claimed to have received from [[Shamash]], the Babylonian god of justice. Unlike earlier [[Sumer]]ian law codes, such as the [[Codeof Ur-Nammu]], which had focused on compensating the victim of the crime, the Law of Hammurabi was one of the first written law codes to place greater emphasis on the physical punishment of the perpetrator. It proscribed specific penalties for each crime and is among the first codes to establish the [[Civil codepresumption of innocence]]. Although its penalties are extremely harsh by modern standards, they were intended to limit what a wronged person was permitted to do in [[Retributive justice|codes retribution]]. The Code of lawHammurabi and the [[Law of Moses]] in the [[recorded historyTorah]]contain numerous similarities, but these are probably due to shared background and oral tradition, and it is unlikely that Hammurabi's laws exerted any direct impact on the later Mosaic ones. Hammurabi was seen by many as a god within his own lifetime. After his death, Hammurabi was revered as a great conqueror who spread civilization and forced all peoples to pay obeisance to [[Marduk]], the [[national god]] of the Babylonians. Later, his military accomplishments became de-emphasized and his role as the ideal lawgiver became the primary aspect of his legacy. For later Mesopotamians, Hammurabi's reign became the frame of reference for all events occurring in the distant past. Even after the empire he built collapsed, he was still revered as a model ruler, and many kings across the Near East claimed him as an ancestor. Hammurabi was rediscovered by archaeologists in the late nineteenth century and has since become seen as an important figure in the history of law.

[[File:Hammurabi's Babylonia 1.svg|thumb|250px|rightleft|Map showing the Babylonian territory upon Hammurabi's ascension in c. {{circa|1792 BC }} and upon his death in c. {{circa|1750 BC]][[File:Royal portrait - Hamurabi - King of Babylon -1900 before JC -.JPG|thumb|left|175px|This bust, known as the "Head of Hammurabi", is now thought to predate Hammurabi by a few hundred years<ref>http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/royal-head-known-head-hammurabi</ref> (''[[Louvre]]'')}}]]Hammurabi was an [[Amorite]] [[First Babylonian Dynasty|First Dynasty]] king of the [[city-state]] of Babylon, and inherited the power from his father, [[Sin-Muballit]], in c. {{circa|1792 BC}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop|2005|p= 1}}</ref> Babylon was one of the many largely Amorite ruled city-states that dotted the central and southern Mesopotamian plains and waged war on each other for control of fertile [[agriculture|agricultural]] land.<ref>{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop |2005|pp=1–2}}</ref> Though many cultures co-existed in Mesopotamia, Babylonian culture gained a degree of prominence among the [[literacy|literate]] classes throughout the [[Middle East]] under Hammurabi.<ref name="VM3">{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop|2005|p=3}}</ref> The kings who came before Hammurabi had founded a relatively minor City State in 1894 BC which controlled little territory outside of the city itself. Babylon was overshadowed by older, larger and more powerful kingdoms such as [[Elam]], [[Assyria]], [[Isin]], [[Eshnunna]] and [[Larsa]] for a century or so after its founding. However his father [[Sin-Muballit]] had begun to consolidate rule of a small area of south central Mesopotamia under Babylonian [[hegemony]] and, by the time of his reign, had conquered the minor city-states of [[Borsippa]], [[Kish (Sumer)|Kish]], and [[Sippar]].<ref name="VM3" />

Thus Hammurabi ascended to the throne as the king of a minor kingdom in the midst of a complex [[geopolitics|geopolitical]] situation. The powerful kingdom of [[Eshnunna]] controlled the upper Tigris River while [[Larsa]] controlled the river delta. To the east of Mesopotamia lay the powerful kingdom of [[Elam]] which regularly invaded and forced tribute upon the small states of southern Mesopotamia. In northern Mesopotamia, the [[Assyria]]n king [[Shamshi-Adad I]], who had already inherited centuries old Assyrian colonies in [[Asia Minor]], had expanded his territory into the [[Levant]] and central [[Mesopotamia]],<ref>{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop|2005|pp=3–4}}</ref> although his untimely death would somewhat fragment his empire.<ref>{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop|2005|p=16}}</ref>

The first few decades of Hammurabi's reign were quite peaceful. Hammurabi used his power to undertake a series of public works, including heightening the city walls for defensive purposes, and expanding the temples.<ref>{{harvnb|Arnold|2005|p=43}}</ref> In c. {{circa|1801 BC}}, the powerful kingdom of [[Elam]], which straddled important [[trade]] routes across the [[Zagros Mountains]], invaded the Mesopotamian plain.<ref>{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop|2005|pp=15–16}}</ref> With allies among the plain states, Elam attacked and destroyed the kingdom of [[Eshnunna]], destroying a number of cities and imposing its rule on portions of the plain for the first time.<ref>{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop|2005|p=17}}</ref> In order to consolidate its position, Elam tried to start a war between Hammurabi's Babylonian kingdom and the kingdom of [[Larsa]].<ref name="VM18">{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop|2005|p=18}}</ref> Hammurabi and the king of [[Larsa]] made an alliance when they discovered this duplicity and were able to crush the Elamites, although Larsa did not contribute greatly to the military effort.<ref name="VM18" /> Angered by Larsa's failure to come to his aid, Hammurabi turned on that southern power, thus gaining control of the entirety of the lower Mesopotamian plain by c. 1763 BC.<ref name="VM31">{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop|2005|p=31}}</ref>

As {{multiple image| align = right| direction = horizontal| header = | width = <!-- Image 1 -->| image1 = King Hammurabi was assisted during the war in the south by raises his allies from the north such as right arm in worship. Detail of a votive monument. Limestone. Circa 1792-1750 BCE. From Sippar, Iraq. The British Museum, London.jpg| width1 = 213| alt1 =| caption1 = Detail of a [[Yamhadlimestone]] and [[Marivotive monument from Sippar, Syria|Mari]]Iraq, the absence of soldiers in the north led dating to unrest.<ref name="VM31" /> Continuing his expansion, {{circa|1792|1750 BC}} showing King Hammurabi turned raising his attention northwardright arm in worship, quelling now held in the unrest and soon after crushing Eshnunna.[[British Museum]]<ref!-- Image 2 -->{{harvnb|Van De Mieroopimage2 = Royal portrait - Hamurabi - King of Babylon -1900 before JC -.JPG|2005width2 = 180|ppalt2 =40–41}}</ref> | caption2 Next the Babylonian armies conquered the remaining northern states= This bust, including Babylon's former ally Mari, although it is possible that known as the 'conquest' "Head of Mari was Hammurabi", is now thought to predate Hammurabi by a surrender without any actual conflict.few hundred years<ref>{{harvnbcite web|Van De Mierooplast=Claire|2005first=Iselin|ppurl=54–55}}<http:/ref><ref>{{harvnb/www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/royal-head-known-head-hammurabi|Van De Mieroop|2005|pp= 64–65}}</ref><ref nametitle=Royal head, known as the "Ar45Head of Hammurabi">{{harvnb|Arnoldpublisher=[[Musée du Louvre]]|2005|pref=45harv}}</ref>(''[[Louvre]]'')}}

Hammurabi entered into a protracted war with [[Ishme-Dagan I]] of [[Assyria]] for control of Mesopotamia, with both kings making alliances with minor states in In order to gain consolidate its position, Elam tried to start a war between Hammurabi's Babylonian kingdom and the upper handkingdom of Larsa. Eventually <ref name="VM18">{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop|2005|p=18}}</ref> Hammurabi prevailed, ousting Ishme-Dagan I just before his own death. [[Mut-Ashkur]] and the new king of Assyria was forced Larsa made an alliance when they discovered this duplicity and were able to pay tribute to Hammurabicrush the Elamites, however Babylon although Larsa did not rule Assyria directlycontribute greatly to the military effort.<ref name="VM18" /> Angered by Larsa's failure to come to his aid, Hammurabi turned on that southern power, thus gaining control of the entirety of the lower Mesopotamian plain by {{circa|1763 BC}}.<ref name="VM31">{{harvnb|Van De Mieroop|2005|p=31}}</ref>

In just a few years, As Hammurabi had succeeded in uniting all of Mesopotamia under his rule.<ref name="Ar45" /> The Assyrian kingdom survived but was forced to pay tribute assisted during his reign, and of the major city-states war in the region, only south by his allies from the north such as [[Yamhad|Aleppo]] and [[QatnaMari, Syria|Mari]] to , the west absence of soldiers in the [[Levant]] maintained their independencenorth led to unrest.<ref name="Ar45VM31" /> HoweverContinuing his expansion, one stele of Hammurabi has been found as far north as [[Diyarbekir]]turned his attention northward, where he claims quelling the title "King of the Amorites"unrest and soon after crushing Eshnunna.<ref>{{cite bookharvnb|title=The Empire of the AmoritesVan De Mieroop|author2005|pp=Clay40–41}}</ref> Next the Babylonian armies conquered the remaining northern states, Albert Tobiasincluding Babylon's former ally Mari, although it is possible that the conquest of Mari was a surrender without any actual conflict.<ref>{{harvnb|publisherVan De Mieroop|2005|pp=[[Yale University Press]]54–55}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|yearVan De Mieroop|2005|pp=191964–65}}</ref><ref name="Ar45">{{harvnb|Arnold|2005|pagesp=9745}}</ref>

Hammurabi entered into a protracted war with [[Ishme-Dagan I]] of Assyria for control of Mesopotamia, with both kings making alliances with minor states in order to gain the upper hand. Eventually Hammurabi prevailed, ousting Ishme-Dagan I just before his own death. [[Mut-Ashkur]], the new king of Assyria, was forced to pay tribute to Hammurabi. In just a few years, Hammurabi succeeded in uniting all of Mesopotamia under his rule.<ref name="Ar45" /> The Assyrian kingdom survived but was forced to pay tribute during his reign, and of the major city-states in the region, only [[Yamhad|Aleppo]] and [[Qatna]] to the west in the [[Levant]] maintained their independence.<ref name="Ar45" /> However, one stele of Hammurabi has been found as far north as [[Diyarbekir]], where he claims the title "King of the Amorites".<ref>{{cite book |title=The Empire of the Amorites |last=Clay |first=Albert Tobias |author-link=Albert Tobias Clay |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |year=1919 |page=97 |url=https://archive.org/details/empireofamorites00clayuoft}}</ref> Vast numbers of contract [[Clay tablet|tablets]], dated to the reigns of Hammurabi and his successors, have been discovered, as well as 55 of his own letters.<ref>{{harvnb|Breasted|2003|p=129}}</ref> These letters give a glimpse into the daily trials of ruling an empire, from dealing with floods and mandating changes to a flawed [[calendar]], to taking care of Babylon's massive herds of livestock.<ref>{{harvnb|Breasted|2003|pp=129–130}}</ref> Hammurabi died and passed the reins of the empire on to his son [[Samsu-iluna]] in c. {{circa|1750 BC}}, under whose rule the Babylonian empire began to quickly unravel.<ref>{{harvnb|Arnold|2005|p=42}}</ref>

[[File:P1050763 Louvre code Hammurabi face rwk.JPG|thumb|upright=1|[[Code of Hammurabi]] stele. [[The Louvre|Louvre Museum]], Paris]]The Code of Hammurabi is best known for not the [[promulgation]] of a new earliest surviving law code of [[Babylonian law]]: the [[Code ;<ref name="Davies2003">{{cite book|title=Codes of Hammurabi]]. One of the first written laws in the worldand Moses|author=Davies,{{Citation neededW. W.|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|date=October 2013January 2003|isbn=0-7661-3124-6|oclc=227972329}} the Code of Hammurabi was inscribed on a [[stele]] and placed in a public place so that all could see it, although </ref> it is thought that few were literate. The stele was later plundered predated by the Elamites and removed to their capital, [[SusaCode of Ur-Nammu]]; it was rediscovered there in 1901 in , the [[IranLaws of Eshnunna]] , and is now in the [[Louvre Museum]] in [[Paris]]. The code Lipit-Ishtar|Code of Hammurabi contained 282 laws, written by [[scribeLipit-Ishtar]]s on 12 tablets. Unlike earlier laws, it was written in [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]]<ref name="Davies2003"/> Nonetheless, the daily language Code of Babylon, Hammurabi shows marked differences from these earlier law codes and could therefore be read by any literate person in the cityultimately proved more influential.<refname="Breasted2003"/>{{harvnb|Breasted|2003|p<ref name=141}}"Bertman2003"/><ref name="Davies2003"/ref>

The structure Code of the code is very specific, with each offense receiving Hammurabi was inscribed on a specified punishment[[stele]] and placed in a public place so that all could see it, although it is thought that few were literate. The punishments tended to be very harsh stele was later plundered by modern standardsthe Elamites and removed to their capital, with many offenses resulting [[Susa]]; it was rediscovered there in 1901 in [[Iran]] and is now in death, disfigurement, or the use of the "[[Eye for an Eye|Eye for eye, tooth for toothLouvre Museum]]" (in [[An eye for an eye|Lex TalionisParis]] "Law of Retaliation") philosophy.<ref>Review: The Code code of Hammurabicontains 282 laws, Jwritten by [[scribe]]s on 12 tablets. Dyneley PrinceUnlike earlier laws, The American Journal it was written in [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]], the daily language of Theology Vol. 8Babylon, No. 3 (Juland could therefore be read by any literate person in the city.<ref name="Breasted2003">{{harvnb|Breasted|2003|p=141}}</ref> Earlier Sumerian law codes had focused on compensating the victim of the crime, 1904), pp. 601-609 Published by: The <ref name="Bertman2003">{{cite book|last1=Bertman|first1=Stephen|title=Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia|date=2003|publisher=Oxford University of Chicago Press Stable URL: http|location=Oxford, England|isbn=978-019-518364-1|page=71|url=https://wwwbooks.jstorgoogle.orgcom/stable/3153895?id=1C4NKp4zgIQC&pg=PA71&dq=adultery+in+ancient+Sumer#v=onepage&q=adultery%20in%20ancient%20Sumer&f=false|ref=harv}}</ref> The code is also one of but the earliest examples Code of Hammurabi instead focused on physically punishing the idea perpetrator.<ref name="Bertman2003"/> The Code of [[presumption Hammurabi was one of innocence]], and it also suggests that the accused and accuser have the opportunity first law code to provide place restrictions on what a wronged person was allowed to do in [[evidenceRetributive justice|retribution]].<ref>Victimology:Theories and Applications, Ann Wolbert Burgess, Albert R. Roberts, Cheryl Regehr,Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2009, p. 103<name="Bertman2003"/ref> However, there is no provision for [[extenuating circumstances]] to alter the prescribed punishment.

A carving at the top The structure of the stele portrays Hammurabi code is very specific, with each offense receiving a specified punishment. The punishments tended to be very harsh by modern standards, with many offenses resulting in death, disfigurement, or the laws from use of the god "[[ShamashEye for an Eye|Eye for eye, tooth for tooth]] or possibly " ([[MardukAn eye for an eye|Lex Talionis]],<ref>{{cite book|title=The Origin "Law of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind|author=Jaynes, Julian|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company Publishing|year=1976|isbn=0-395-20729-0}}Retaliation") philosophy.</ref> and the preface states that Hammurabi was chosen by the gods of his people to bring the laws to them. Parallels between this narrative and the giving of laws by God in Jewish tradition to [[Moses]] and similarities between the two legal codes suggest a common ancestor in the Semitic background of the twohttps://www.jstor. Fragments org/stable/3153895 "Review: The Code of previous law codes have been found.<ref>Hammurabi," J. D. DouglasDyneley Prince, Merrill C''The American Journal of Theology'' Vol. Tenney8, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary No. 3 (ZondervanJul., 20111904), page 1323pp.601–609 Published by: The University of Chicago Press]</ref><refname="Bertman2003"/>[[George Aaron Barton|Barton, G.A]]: ''Archaeology and the Bible''. University of Michigan Library, 2009, p.406. Barton, a former professor The code is also one of Semitic languages at the University earliest examples of Pennsylvania, stated that while there are similarities between the two texts, a study idea of the entirety [[presumption of both laws ''"convinces the student innocence]], and it also suggests that the laws of the Old Testament are in no essential way dependent upon the Babylonian laws."'' He states that ''"such resemblances"'' arose from ''"a similarity of antecedents accused and of general intellectual outlook"'' between accuser have the two cultures, but that ''"the striking differences show that there was no direct borrowingopportunity to provide [[evidence]]."'' (''ibid'', p.406)</ref><ref>Unger, M.F.: ''Archaeology Victimology: Theories and the Old TestamentApplications''. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Co., 1954Ann Wolbert Burgess, pAlbert R.156Roberts, 157</ref><ref>FreeCheryl Regehr, J.P.: ''Archaeology and Biblical History''. Wheaton: Scripture PressJones & Bartlett Learning, 1950, 19692009, p. 121103</ref> David P. Wright argues that the Jewish law used Hammurabi's collection as a modelHowever, imitating both its structure and content.<ref>David P. Wright, ''Inventing God's Law: How there is no provision for [[extenuating circumstances]] to alter the Covenant Code of the Bible Used and Revised the Laws of Hammurabi'' (Oxford University Press, 2009), page 3 and passimprescribed punishment.</ref>

Similar codes A carving at the top of law were created in several nearby civilizations, including the earlier stele portrays Hammurabi receiving the laws from [[MesopotamianShamash]] examples , the Babylonian god of [[Code of Ur-Nammujustice,<ref>{{cite book|Ur-Nammulast1=Kleiner|first1=Fred S.|title=Gardner's Art through the Ages: The Western Perspective|date=2010|publisher=Wadsworth Cengage Learning|location=Boston, Massachusetts|isbn=978-0-495-57360-9|volume=1|page=29|edition=Thirteenth|url=https://books.google.com/?id=mBrvazPDFoYC&pg=PT61&dq=Hammurabi+code+Shamash#v=onepage&q=Hammurabi%20code%20Shamash&f=false|ref=harv}}</ref> and the preface states that Hammurabi was chosen by Shamash to bring the laws to the people.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=J. M. Powis|title=The Origin and History of Hebrew Law|date=2005|publisher=The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.|location=Clark, New Jersey|isbn=978-1-58477-489-1|page=13|url=https://books.google.com/?id=NNgR7RjfSs0C&pg=PA12&dq=Hammurabi+code+Shamash#v=onepage&q=Hammurabi%20code%20Shamash&f=false|ref=harv}}</ref> Parallels between this narrative and the giving of the [[Covenant Code]], to [[Laws of EshnunnaMoses]], andby [[Lipit-IshtarYahweh]] atop [[Biblical Mount Sinai|Code Mount Sinai]] in the [[Bible|Biblical]] [[Book of LipitExodus]] and similarities between the two legal codes suggest a common ancestor in the Semitic background of the two.<ref name="Douglas">{{cite book|last1=Douglas|first1=J. D.|last2=Tenney|first2=Merrill C.|date=2011|title=Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|publisher=Zondervan|isbn=978-Ishtar0310229834|page=1323|ref=harv}}</ref><ref name="Barton_406">[[George Aaron Barton|Barton, G.A]]: ''Archaeology and the Bible''. University of Michigan Library, 2009, p.406.</ref><ref name="Unger">Unger, M.F.: ''Archaeology and the later Old Testament''. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Co., 1954, p.156, 157</ref><ref name="Free">Free, J.P.: ''Archaeology and Biblical History''. Wheaton: Scripture Press, 1950, 1969, p. 121</ref> Nonetheless, fragments of previous law codes have been found and it is unlikely that the [[Hittite laws|Hittite code Law of Moses|Mosaic laws]]were directly inspired by the Code of Hammurabi.<ref name="Douglas"/><ref name="Barton_406"/><ref name="Unger"/><ref name="Free"/>{{efn|Barton, a former professor of Semitic languages at the University of Pennsylvania, stated that while there are similarities between the two texts, a study of the entirety of both laws "convinces the student that the laws of the Old Testament are in no essential way dependent upon the Babylonian laws." He states that "such resemblances" arose from "a similarity of antecedents and of general intellectual outlook" between the two cultures, but that "the striking differences show that there was no direct borrowing."<ref name="Barton_406"/>}} Some scholars have disputed this; David P. Wright argues that the Jewish Covenant Code is "directly, primarily, and throughout" based upon the Laws of Hammurabi.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wright|first=David P.|title=Codes Inventing God's Law: How the Covenant Code of the Bible Used and Revised the Laws of Hammurabi |location=Oxford, England|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=2009|pages=3 and Mosespassim|authorref=Daviesharv}}</ref> In 2010, Wa team of archaeologists from [[Hebrew University]] discovered a cuneiform tablet dating to the eighteenth or seventeenth century BC at [[Tel Hazor|Hazor]] in [[Israel]] containing laws clearly derived from the Code of Hammurabi. W<ref>{{cite news|title=Tablet Discovered by Hebrew U Matches Code of Hammurabi|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138788|agency=[[Arutz Sheva]]|publisher=Kessinger PublishingHolyLand Holdings, Ltd.|datelocation=January 2003[[Beit El]]|isbndate=0-7661-3124-626 June 2010|oclcref=227972329harv}}</ref>

=== Significant Example laws in Hammurabi's code ===[[File:Code of Hammurabi Laws.jpg|thumb|Code of Hammurabi Laws, 1750 BC]]

* §&nbsp;196-201 196–201 – If a man destroy the eye of another man, they shall destroy his eye. If one break a man's bone, they shall break his bone. If one destroy the eye of a freeman or break the bone of a freeman he shall pay one ''mana'' of silver. If one destroy the eye of a man's slave or break a bone of a man's slave he shall pay one-half his price. If a man knock out a tooth of a man of his own rank, they shall knock out his tooth. If one knock out a tooth of a freeman, he shall pay one-third ''mana'' of silver.* §&nbsp;218-219 218–219 – If a physician operate on a man for a severe wound with a bronze lancet and cause that man's death; or open an abscess (in the eye) of a man with a bronze lancet and destroy the man's eye, they shall cut off his fingers. If a physician operate on a slave of a freeman for a severe wound with a bronze lancet and cause his death, he shall restore a slave of equal value.* §&nbsp;229-232 229–232 – If a builder build a house for a man and do not make its construction firm, and the house which he has built collapse and cause the death of the owner of the house, that builder shall be put to death. If it cause the death of a son of the owner of the house, they shall put to death a son of that builder. If it cause the death of a slave of the owner of the house, he shall give the owner of the house a slave of equal value. If it destroy property, he shall restore whatever it destroyed, and because he did not make the house which he built firm and it collapsed, he shall rebuild the house which collapsed from his own property (i.e., at his own expense).

== Legacy and depictions ==[[File:Hammurabi bas-relief in the U.S. House of Representatives chamber.jpg|thumb|rightupright|The bas-relief of Hammurabi at the United States Congress]]During ===Commemoration after his reign Babylon usurped death===Hammurabi was honored above all other kings of the position second millennium BC{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=128}} and he received the unique honor of being declared to be a god within his own lifetime.{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=127}} The personal name "most holy cityHammurabi-ili" in southern Mesopotamia meaning "Hammurabi is my god" became common during and after his reign.{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=127}} In writings from its predecessorshortly after his death, Hammurabi is commemorated mainly for three achievements: bringing victory in war, bringing peace, and bringing justice.{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=127}} Hammurabi's conquests came to be regarded as part of a sacred mission to spread civilization to all nations.{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=126}} A stele from Ur glorifies him in his own voice as a mighty ruler who forces evil into submission and compels all peoples to worship [[NippurMarduk]].{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|pages=126-127}} The stele declares: "The people of Elam, for the final time (Babylon had also previously enjoyed this status under the AkkadiansGutium, before it was restored Subartu, and Tukrish, whose mountains are distant and whose languages are obscure, I placed into [Marduk's] hand. I myself continued to Nippur in the "Sumerian renaissance")put straight their confused minds."{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=126}} A later hymn also written in Hammurabi's own voice extols him as a powerful, supernatural force for Marduk:{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=126}}

Under <blockquote><poem>I am the rule of Hammurabi's successor [[Samsu-iluna]]king, the short-lived Babylonian Empire began to collapse. In northern Mesopotamiabrace that grasps wrongdoers, both the Amorites and Babylonians were driven from [[Assyria]] by [[Puzur-Sin]] a native [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]]-speaking rulerthat makes people of one mind, circa 1740 BC. Around I am the same timegreat dragon among kings, native Akkadian speakers threw off Amorite Babylonian rule who throws their counsel in the far south of Mesopotamiadisarray, creating I am the net that is stretched over the [[Sealand Dynasty]]enemy, in more or less I am the region of ancient Sumer. Hammurabi's ineffectual successors met with further defeats and loss of territory at the hands of Assyrian kings such as [[Adasi]] and [[Belfear-ibni]]inspiring, who, when lifting his fierce eyes, as well as to gives the Sealand Dynasty to disobedient the southdeath sentence, [[Elam]] to I am the eastgreat net that covers evil intent, and to I am the [[Kassites]] from the northeast. Thus was Babylon quickly reduced to the small young lion, who breaks nets and minor state it had once been upon its founding.<ref>Georges Roux – Ancient Iraq</ref> The ''coup de grace'' for the Hammurabi's Amorite Dynasty occurred in 1595 BCscepters, when Babylon was sacked and conquered by I am the powerful [[Hittite Empire]], thereby ending all Amorite political presence in Mesopotamiabattle net that catches him who offends me.<ref name="D19">{{harvnbsfn|DeBloisVan De Mieroop|19972005|ppages=19126-127}}</refpoem></blockquote> However, the Indo-European-speaking Hittites did not remain, turning over Babylon to their [[Kassite]] allies, a people speaking a [[language isolate]], from the [[Zagros mountains]] region. This [[Kassite Dynasty]] was to rule Babylon for over 400 years, adopting parts of the Babylonian [[culture]], including Hammurabi's code of laws.

Because After extolling Hammurabi's military accomplishments, the hymn finally declares: "I am Hammurabi, the king of justice."{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=127}} In later commemorations, Hammurabi's reputation role as a great lawgiver, came to be emphasized above all his depiction can be found in several [[United Statesother accomplishments{{sfn|U.S.]] government buildingsVan De Mieroop|2005|page=128}} and his military achievements became de-emphasized. {{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=128}} Hammurabi is one of the 23 lawgivers depicted in [[marble]] [[bas-relief]]'s in reign became the [[United States Capitol#House Chamber|chamber]] point of the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] reference for all events in the [[United States Capitol]]distant past.<ref>{{cite websfn|accessdate=2008-05-19Van De Mieroop|url=http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/lawgivers/hammurabi.cfm2005|titlepage=Hammurabi|publisher=[[Architect of the Capitol]]128}}</ref> A hymn to the goddess [[friezeInanna|Ishtar]] by , whose language suggests it was written during the reign of [[Adolph WeinmanAmmi-Saduqa|Ammisaduqa]] depicting the "great lawgivers of history", including Hammurabi's fourth successor, declares: "The king who first heard this song as a song of your heroism is on the south wall of the [[United States Supreme Court building|UHammurabi.SThis song for you was composed in his reign. Supreme Court building]].<ref>May he be given life forever!"{{cite websfn|accessdate=2008-05-19Van De Mieroop|2005|urlpage=128}} For centuries after his death, Hammurabi's laws continued to be copied by scribes as part of their writing exercises and they were even partially translated into Sumerian.{{SCOTUS URLsfn|about/north&southwalls.pdf}} Van De Mieroop|title=Courtroom Friezes2005|publisherpage=[[Supreme Court of the United States]]129}}</ref>

A theory current ===Political legacy===[[File:Babylonian stele Louvre Sb9.jpg|thumb|Copy of Hammurabi's stele usurped by [[Shutruk-Nakhunte|Shutruk-Nahhunte I]]. The stele was only partially erased and was never re-inscribed.{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|pages=129-130}}]] During the reign of Hammurabi, Babylon usurped the position of "most holy city" in southern Mesopotamia from its predecessor, [[Nippur]].<ref name="Schneider">{{citation|last=Schneider|first=Tammi J.|title=An Introduction to Ancient Mesopotamian Religion|publisher=William B. Eerdman's Publishing Company|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan|date=2011|isbn=978-0-8028-2959-7|url=https://books.google.com/?id=2HfU9gv0fXYC&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=Iconography+of+Enlil#v=onepage&q=Iconography%20of%20Enlil&f=false|pages=58–59|ref=harv}}</ref> Under the early part rule of Hammurabi's successor [[Samsu-iluna]], the past short-lived Babylonian Empire began to collapse. In northern Mesopotamia, both the Amorites and Babylonians were driven from [[Assyria]] by [[Puzur-Sin]] a native [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]]-speaking ruler, {{circa|1740 BC}}. Around the same time, native Akkadian speakers threw off Amorite Babylonian rule in the far south of Mesopotamia, creating the [[Sealand Dynasty]], in more or less the region of ancient Sumer. Hammurabi's ineffectual successors met with further defeats and loss of territory at the hands of Assyrian kings such as [[Adasi]] and [[Bel-ibni]], as well as to the Sealand Dynasty to the south, [[Elam]] to the east, and to the [[Kassites]] from the northeast. Thus was Babylon quickly reduced to the small and minor state it had once been upon its founding.<ref>Georges Roux – Ancient Iraq</ref> The ''coup de grace'' for the Hammurabi's Amorite Dynasty occurred in 1595 BC, when Babylon was sacked and conquered by the powerful [[Hittite Empire]], thereby ending all Amorite political presence in Mesopotamia.<ref name="D19">{{harvnb|DeBlois|1997|p=19}}</ref> However, the Indo-European-speaking Hittites did not remain, turning over Babylon to their [[Kassites|Kassite]] allies, a people speaking a [[language isolate]], from the [[Zagros mountains]] region. This [[Kassite Dynasty]] ruled Babylon for over 400 years<ref name="D19"/> and adopted many aspects of the Babylonian [[culture]], including Hammurabi's code of laws.<ref name="D19"/> Even after the fall of the Amorite Dynasty, however, Hammurabi was still remembered and revered.{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=129}} When the Elamite king [[Shutruk-Nakhunte|Shutruk-Nahhunte I]] raided Babylon in 1158 BC and carried off many stone monuments, he had most of the inscriptions on these monuments erased and new inscriptions carved into them.{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=129}} On the stele containing Hammurabi's laws, however, only four or five columns were wiped out and no new inscription was ever added.{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|pages=129-130}} Over a thousand years after Hammurabi's death, the kings of [[Suhum|Suhu]], a land along the Euphrates river, just northwest of Babylon, claimed him as their ancestor.{{sfn|Van De Mieroop|2005|page=130}} ===Modern rediscovery===In the early twentieth century holds , many scholars believed that Hammurabi was [[Amraphel]], the King of [[Shinar]] in the Book of Genesis 14:1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1440-amraphel|title=AMRAPHEL - JewishEncyclopedia.com|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2014&version=NIV|title=Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 14 - New International Version|publisher=}}</ref>This view has now been largely rejected,<ref>{{cite book|last=North|first=Robert|editor1-last=Metzger|editor1-first=Bruce M.|editor2-last=Coogan|editor2-first=Michael D.|date=1993|title=The Oxford Companion to the Bible|location=Oxford, England|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=5|chapter=Abraham|isbn=0-19-504645-5|ref=harv}}</ref><ref name="Granerød2010">{{cite book|last=Granerød|first=Gard|title=Abraham and Melchizedek: Scribal Activity of Second Temple Times in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m5mlvNPexSEC&pg=PA114|date=26 March 2010|location=Berlin, Germany|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-3-11-022346-0|page=120|ref=harv}}</ref> and Amraphael's existence is not attested in any writings from outside the Bible.<ref name="Granerød2010"/> Because of Hammurabi's reputation as a lawgiver, his depiction can be found in several [[United States|U.S.]] government buildings. Hammurabi is one of the 23 lawgivers depicted in [[marble]] [[bas-relief]]s in the [[United States Capitol#House Chamber|chamber]] of the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] in the [[United States Capitol]].<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-05-19|url=http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/lawgivers/hammurabi.cfm|title=Hammurabi|publisher=[[Architect of the Capitol]]}}</ref> A [[frieze]] by [[Adolph Weinman]] depicting the "great lawgivers of history", including Hammurabi, is on the south wall of the [[United States Supreme Court building|U.S. Supreme Court building]].<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2008-05-19 |url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/north&southwalls.pdf |title=Courtroom Friezes |publisher=[[Supreme Court of the United States]] |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601113942/https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/north%26southwalls.pdf |archivedate=June 1, 2010 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Biskupic|first1=Joan|title=LAWGIVERS: FROM TWO FRIEZES, GREAT FIGURES OF LEGAL HISTORY GAZE UPON THE SUPREME COURT BENCH|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/1998/03/11/lawgivers-from-two-friezes-great-figures-of-legal-history-gaze-upon-the-supreme-court-bench/b9372b89-5b94-4fa2-81d9-300ee24913db/|accessdate=28 November 2017|agency=The Washington Post|publisher=WP Company LLC|date=11 March 1998|ref=harv}}</ref> At the time of [[Saddam Hussein]], the [[Iraqi Army]]'s [[1st Hammurabi Armoured Division]] was named after the ancient king as part of an effort to emphasize the connection between modern Iraq and the pre-Arab Mesopotamian cultures.

* [[ManusmritiManusmṛti]]

== Notes Further reading ==* {{Reflistcite book |30emlast=Finet |first=André |title=Le trone et la rue en Mésopotamie: L'exaltation du roi et les techniques de l'opposition, in La voix de l'opposition en Mésopotamie |year=1973 |publisher=Institut des Hautes Études de Belgique |location=Bruxelles |oclc=652257981}}* {{cite journal |last=Jacobsen |first=Th. |title=Primitive democracy in Ancient Mesopotomia |journal=Journal of Near Eastern Studies |year=1943 |volume=2 |pages=159–172 |doi=10.1086/370672 |issue=3}}* {{cite journal |last=Finkelstein |first=J. J. |title=The Genealogy of the Hammurabi Dynasty |journal=Journal of Cuneiform Studies |year=1966 |volume=20 |pages=95–118 |doi=10.2307/1359643 |issue=3|jstor=1359643 }}* {{cite book |last=Hammurabi |title=The Babylonian Laws |year=1952 |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford |editor1-last=Driver |editor1-first=G.R. |editor2-last=Miles |editor2-first=John C.}}* {{cite book |last=Leemans |first=W. F. |title=The Old Babylonian Merchant: His Business and His Social Position |year=1950 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden}}* {{cite journal |last=Munn-Rankin |first=J. M. |authorlink1=Margaret Munn-Rankin |title=Diplomacy in Western Asia in the Early Second Millennium BC |journal=Iraq |year=1956 |volume=18 |pages=68–110 |doi=10.2307/4199599 |issue=1|jstor=4199599 }}* {{cite book |last=Pallis |first=S. A. |title=The Antiquity of Iraq: A Handbook of Assyriology |year=1956 |publisher=Ejnar Munksgaard |location=Copenhagen}}* {{cite book |last=Richardson |first=M.E.J. |title=Hammurabi's laws : text, translation and glossary |year=2000 |publisher=Sheffield Acad. Press |location=Sheffield |isbn=1-84127-030-X}}* {{cite book |last=Saggs |first=H.W.F. |title=The greatness that was Babylon : a survey of the ancient civilization of the Tigris-Euphrates Valley |year=1988 |publisher=Sidgwick & Jackson |location=London |isbn=0-283-99623-4}}* {{cite book |last=Yoffee |first=Norman |title=The economic role of the crown in the old Babylonian period |year=1977 |publisher=Undena Publications |location=Malibu, CA |isbn=0-89003-021-9}}

== References Notes==* {{cite book|first=Bill T.|last=Arnold|year=2005|title=Who Were the Babylonians?|publisher=[[Brill Publishers]]|isbn=90-04-13071-3|oclc=225281611|ref=harv}}.* {{cite book|first=James Henry|last=Breasted|year=2003|title=Ancient Time or a History of the Early World, Part 1|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|isbn=0-7661-4946-3|oclc=69651827|ref=harv}}.* {{cite book|first=Lukas|last=DeBlois|year=1997|title=An Introduction to the Ancient World|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=0-415-12773-4|oclc=231710353|ref=harv}}.* {{cite book|first=Marc|last=Van De Mieroop|year=2005|title=King Hammurabi of Babylon: A Biography|publisher=[[Blackwell Publishing]]|isbn=1-4051-2660-4|oclc=255676990|ref=harvnotelist}}

== Further reading References==* {{cite bookReflist|last24em}} =Finet|first=André |title=Le trone et la rue en Mésopotamie: L'exaltation du roi et les techniques de l'opposition, in La voix de l'opposition en Mésopotamie|yearBibliography=1973|publisher=Institut des Hautes Études de Belgique|location=Bruxelles|oclc=652257981}}* {{cite journal|last=Jacobsen|first=Th.|title=Primitive democracy in Ancient Mesopotomia|journal=Journal of Near Eastern Studies|year=1943|volume=2|pages=159–172|doi=10.1086/370672|issue=3refbegin}}* {{cite journalbook |last=FinkelsteinArnold |first=J. JBill T.|title=The Genealogy of the Hammurabi Dynasty|journal=Journal of Cuneiform Studies|year=1966|volume=20|pages=95–118|doi=10.2307/1359643|issue=3}}* {{cite book|last=Hammurabi2005 |title=The Babylonian Laws|year=1952Who Were the Babylonians? |publisher=Clarendon Press[[Brill Publishers]] |locationisbn=Oxford|editor190-last=Driver|editor104-first=G.R.13071-3 |editor2-lastoclc=Miles225281611 |editor2-firstref=John C.harv}}* {{cite book|last=LeemansBreasted |first=W. F.|title=The Old Babylonian Merchant: His Business and His Social PositionJames Henry |year=1950|publisher=Brill|location=Leiden}}* {{cite journal|last=Munn-Rankin|first=J. M.2003 |title=Diplomacy in Western Asia in Ancient Time or a History of the Early Second Millennium BCWorld, Part 1 |journalpublisher=IraqKessinger Publishing |yearisbn=19560-7661-4946-3 |volumeoclc=1869651827 |pagesref=68–110|doi=10.2307/4199599|issue=1harv}}* {{cite book|last=PallisDeBlois |first=S. A.|title=The Antiquity of Iraq: A Handbook of AssyriologyLukas |year=1956|publisher=Ejnar Munksgaard|location=Copenhagen}}* {{cite book|last=Richardson|first=M.E.J.1997 |title=Hammurabi's laws : text, translation and glossary|year=2000An Introduction to the Ancient World |publisher=Sheffield Acad. Press|location=Sheffield[[Routledge]] |isbn=10-84127415-03012773-X4 |oclc=231710353 |ref=harv}}* {{cite book|last=SaggsVan De Mieroop |first=H.W.F.Marc |year=2005 |title=The greatness that was King Hammurabi of Babylon : a survey of the ancient civilization of the Tigris-Euphrates Valley|year=1988A Biography |publisher=Sidgwick & Jackson|location=London[[Blackwell Publishing]] |isbn=01-2834051-996232660-4|oclc=255676990 |ref=harv}}* {{cite book|last=Yoffee|first=Norman|title=The economic role of the crown in the old Babylonian period|year=1977|publisher=Undena Publications|location=Malibu, CA|isbn=0-89003-021-9refend}}<<

* [http://www.louvre.fr/llven/dossiersoeuvre-notices/detail_oal.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673229909&CURRENT_LLV_OAL%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673229909&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=0&bmLocale=en law-code-hammurabi-king-babylon A Closer Look at the Code of Hammurabi (Louvre museum)]

{{Persondata|NAME=Hammurabi|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=|SHORT DESCRIPTION=King of Babylon and creator of first known code of laws in the world.|DATE OF BIRTH=c. 1728 BC|PLACE OF BIRTH= Babylon|DATE OF DEATH=c. 1686 BC|PLACE OF DEATH= Babylon}}[[Category:18th19th-century BC peoplebirths]]