Most people know Hammurabi for his famous code of laws. However, this Babylonian king was much more than a strict judge. For instance, he was a micro-manager who obsessed over tiny details like cow inspections. Furthermore, he conquered nearly all of Mesopotamia during his reign. Consequently, his legacy is both brutal and brilliant. Therefore, explore the life of this ancient ruler. You will respect his power.
Hammurabi
Hammurabi did not actually write the first legal code. In fact, the Code of Ur-Nammu is centuries older. However, his is the most famous.
His laws established the first minimum wage. Specifically, he set fixed pay rates for sailors, ox drivers, and field laborers.
He took consumer protection very seriously. If a builder built a bad house that killed the owner, the builder faced execution.
Hammurabi was an intense micro-manager. Archaeologists found letters where he personally managed simple tasks like shearing sheep.
The famous “eye for an eye” law was not equal. Actually, the punishment depended entirely on the victim’s social class.
He claimed a god gave him the laws. The top of his famous stele shows him standing before Shamash, the sun god.
The legal code covers beer sales extensively. For instance, if a tavern keeper watered down beer, she could be drowned.
Hammurabi united Mesopotamia through diplomacy and war. Initially, he was just one of many kings before he conquered his rivals.
His empire crumbled quickly after his death. Unfortunately, his son Samsu-iluna could not maintain the vast territory he left behind.
The code introduced the presumption of innocence. Therefore, if an accuser could not prove a crime, they faced punishment themselves.
Thieves faced very harsh penalties. If someone stole from a temple or palace, the law required their immediate execution.
He cared deeply about irrigation. Consequently, he dug massive canals to bring water to dry farmland around Babylon.
The laws were written in Akkadian, not Sumerian. Thus, the common people of Babylon could actually read and understand them.
Elamites stole his famous legal stele. Archaeologists eventually found the broken pillar in Iran in 1901, far from Babylon.
Finally, Hammurabi ruled for forty-three years. His long reign allowed him to transform Babylon into a legendary city.
