⚖️ Hammurabi

The Lawgiver King

Hammurabi, Sixth King of the First Dynasty of Babylon

  • Name Meaning: "The Kinsman is a Healer" (Amorite)
  • Reign: c. 1792-1750 BCE (Middle Chronology)
  • Dynasty: Amorite Dynasty of Babylon
  • Major Achievement: The Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes
  • Divine Patron: Marduk, chief god of Babylon; also honored Shamash, god of justice
  • Symbols: The law stele, scales of justice, rod and ring (symbols of authority from the gods)
  • Legacy: Established Babylon as a major power; created enduring legal principles

Overview

Hammurabi was the sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon, who transformed a minor city-state into the dominant power of Mesopotamia. He is best known for the Code of Hammurabi, one of the oldest deciphered writings of significant length in the world, which established comprehensive laws governing Babylonian society. His reign marked the beginning of Babylon's ascendancy and the establishment of legal principles that would influence civilizations for millennia.

Rise to Power

Early Reign and Consolidation

When Hammurabi ascended to the throne around 1792 BCE, Babylon was a relatively minor power, overshadowed by stronger neighboring kingdoms such as Larsa, Eshnunna, Elam, and Mari. The first decades of his reign were spent consolidating power, building infrastructure, and strengthening the city's defenses. He focused on:

Strategic Alliances and Conflicts

Hammurabi proved himself a masterful diplomat and strategist. He formed alliances with Larsa and Mari against Elam, then later turned against his former allies to expand Babylonian territory. His military campaigns were methodical:

These conquests were not merely military victories but were presented as divinely ordained missions to establish justice and order throughout the land, fulfilling the will of Marduk.

The Code of Hammurabi

The Great Law Stele

Hammurabi's most enduring achievement is his law code, inscribed on a massive black diorite stele over seven feet tall. The stele, discovered at Susa in 1901 (where it had been taken as war booty by Elamite invaders), is now housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris. At the top of the stele is a relief depicting Hammurabi receiving the rod and ring—symbols of divine authority—from Shamash, the sun god and god of justice.

Structure of the Code

The Code consists of 282 laws organized thematically, covering:

Legal Principles

Lex Talionis: The code famously established the principle of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth"— proportional justice where punishment matches the crime. However, this applied differently based on social class:

  • If a noble injured another noble, the same injury was inflicted
  • If a noble injured a commoner, a fine was paid
  • If a commoner injured a noble, harsher penalties applied

Notable Laws

Prologue and Epilogue

The Code begins with a lengthy prologue where Hammurabi declares he was chosen by the gods "to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak." The epilogue contains blessings for those who respect the laws and curses upon future rulers who deface or ignore them, invoking various deities to punish violators.

Administration and Governance

Centralized Bureaucracy

Hammurabi established an efficient centralized administration, personally involving himself in matters great and small. Thousands of letters have been discovered showing his attention to detail in:

Economic Policies

Under Hammurabi's rule, Babylon flourished economically through:

Religious Role

Champion of Marduk

Hammurabi promoted Marduk (patron deity of Babylon) to supremacy in the Mesopotamian pantheon. As Babylon rose to political dominance, Marduk displaced older gods like Enlil as king of the gods. This religious elevation paralleled and legitimized Babylon's political ascendancy. Hammurabi presented himself as Marduk's earthly representative, chosen to establish divine order.

Temple Builder

Hammurabi constructed and restored temples throughout his kingdom, including:

These building projects were both acts of piety and political statements, demonstrating Babylonian wealth and divine favor.

Legacy and Death

End of Reign

Hammurabi died around 1750 BCE after a 42-year reign. He was succeeded by his son Samsu-iluna, who faced immediate rebellions and invasions. The empire Hammurabi built proved difficult to maintain, and southern Mesopotamia was lost within a few years of his death. However, Babylon itself remained a major power for centuries.

Historical Impact

Hammurabi's influence extended far beyond his lifetime:

Archaeological Significance

The discovery of the Code stele in 1901 was revolutionary for understanding ancient Near Eastern civilization. It provided:

Cultural and Mythological Dimensions

Divine Mandate

Hammurabi presented himself not merely as a conqueror but as a divinely appointed shepherd of his people. The prologue to his law code states: "When Marduk sent me to rule the people and to bring help to the land, I established law and justice in the language of the land and promoted the welfare of the people."

The Just King Archetype

Hammurabi embodied the Mesopotamian ideal of the just king who:

This ideal influenced later Near Eastern kingship ideologies, including biblical conceptions of righteous kingship.

Relationship to Other Figures

Symbolism and Modern Recognition

Today, Hammurabi is universally recognized as a symbol of law and justice. His image appears:

From the Prologue to the Code:

"When the lofty Anu, king of the Anunnaki, and Enlil, lord of heaven and earth, the determiner of the destinies of the land, determined for Marduk, the first-born of Ea, the Enlil functions over all mankind, made him great among the Igigi, called Babylon by its exalted name, made it supreme in the world, established for him in its midst an enduring kingship... at that time Anu and Enlil named me to promote the welfare of the people, me, Hammurabi, the devout, god-fearing prince, to cause justice to prevail in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil, that the strong might not oppress the weak."

Related Content

Cross-Cultural Parallels

Related Archetypes

See Also