Ruler · 1810 BC – 1750 BC
Hammurabi
Key Takeaways
- Hammurabi united much of Mesopotamia under Babylonian rule.
- His law code is one of the earliest and most complete to survive.
- The code is famous for the principle of proportional retribution ("an eye for an eye").
- It was inscribed on a stone stele for all to see, asserting royal justice.
Hammurabi turned the city of Babylon into the dominant power of ancient Mesopotamia — and gave history one of its earliest and most complete written law codes.
A unifier of Mesopotamia
Coming to the throne around 1792 BC, Hammurabi spent decades in patient diplomacy and war, eventually subduing the rival city-states between the Tigris and Euphrates and welding them into a Babylonian kingdom.
The Code of Hammurabi
Hammurabi’s enduring fame rests on his law code — nearly 300 statutes inscribed on a black stone stele, now in the Louvre. Covering trade, marriage, property, wages and crime, it famously embodied proportional retribution — “an eye for an eye” — and proclaimed the king’s duty “that the strong might not oppress the weak.”
Legacy
Though its punishments were harsh and graded by social rank, the code influenced legal thinking across the ancient Near East and remains a milestone in the long history of written law. Centuries later, the city Hammurabi raised to glory would fall to Cyrus the Great.
Influence
Hammurabi's code influenced the legal traditions of the entire ancient Near East and stands as a landmark in the history of written law and the idea that rulers are bound to dispense justice.
Legacy
The stele bearing his code, now in the Louvre, is one of the most important legal artifacts ever discovered, and Hammurabi is honored as a foundational lawgiver.
Major Works
- The Code of Hammurabi
Controversies
- The code's punishments were harsh and varied by social class, treating nobles, commoners and slaves differently.
Notable Quotes
“To make justice visible in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil, that the strong might not oppress the weak.”
Connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Hammurabi?
Hammurabi (c. 1810–1750 BC) was a king of Babylon who united Mesopotamia and issued the Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest comprehensive written law codes.
What is the Code of Hammurabi?
It is a Babylonian law code of nearly 300 statutes, inscribed on stone, famous for proportional retribution and for asserting the king's duty to deliver justice.
Citations & Sources
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