Hammurabi shaped ancient civilization with his vision of justice and governance. In Fascinating Discoveries about Hammurabi, dive into intriguing facts about his reign, his famous code, and the empire he built in Mesopotamia.
Hammurabi
Hammurabi ruled Babylon from around 1792 to 1750 BCE. He was the sixth king of the First Babylonian Dynasty and transformed Babylon from a small city-state into a powerful empire.
He is best known for the Code of Hammurabi, one of the oldest and most complete legal codes ever discovered.
The Code of Hammurabi contained 282 laws, carved onto a large stone stele for all to see. The Code was inscribed on a large black diorite stele, which stands about 2.25 meters tall and was discovered in 1901 in Susa (modern-day Iran). The stele shows Hammurabi receiving the laws from Shamash, the Babylonian sun god.
His famous principle of “an eye for an eye” aimed to create fairness but often favored the wealthy.
Hammurabi’s code covered everything from trade and property rights to marriage, theft, and personal injury.
He expanded his empire through strategic warfare and clever diplomacy, uniting much of Mesopotamia under his rule.
The stele displaying Hammurabi’s laws was lost for centuries and was found in 1901 in modern-day Iran.
He claimed that the god Marduk chose him to bring order and justice to his people.
His laws introduced the concept of presumed innocence, a foundation of modern legal systems.
Hammurabi’s empire stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Euphrates River valley.
The Code of Hammurabi also set specific wages for workers, regulating the ancient economy.
Many punishments in his code were harsh, reflecting the brutal realities of ancient life.
His leadership focused on building canals, strengthening agriculture, and boosting trade networks.
He was not just a lawgiver; Hammurabi was also a skilled military leader who fought rival kings.
His influence lives on, as his legal concepts helped shape the development of future civilizations.
