Code Of Hammurabi Essay

LIFE IN ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

William R Madden
Western Civilization Through 1500
September 04, 2017

The Code of Hammurabi
The Code of Hammurabi was a collection of 282 ancient Mesopotamian laws which were recorded on a pillar shaped stone called a stele . Hammurabi’s code was a system for the administration of punishment with the severity of punishment partially determined by the social class of an offender — A noble would be sentenced less harshly than a commoner or slave . In the codes introduction, the Babylonian deities charged Hammurabi with maintaining justice within his lands, which is illustrated by: “When Marduk sent me to rule over men, to give the protection of right to the land, I did right and righteousness in .

. . , and brought about the well-being of the oppressed .”
Punishment within the code is quite brutal when compared to modern justice, with many of the laws calling for the offender to be sentenced to death .

In addition to brutality, the rules are often non-sensible as can be seen with law number two — A defendant’s guilt is determined by a plunge into the river, if the accused dies, the accuser may claim the defendant’s possessions. If the accused lives, the accuser is put to death .
Many laws within Hammurabi’s code regulate elements of commerce, law 268, 269, and 270, for example:
• “268. If any one hire an ox for threshing, the amount of the hire is twenty ka of corn .”
• “269. If he hire an ass for threshing, the hire is twenty ka of corn .”
• “270. If he hire a young animal for threshing, the hire is ten ka of corn .”
Hammurabi’s code also governs social conduct, with a notable number of rules pertaining to women. Law number 128 states: “128. If a man take a woman to wife, but have no intercourse with her, this woman is no wife to him .”
The Code of Hammurabi concludes with an epilogue that restates Hammurabi’s right-to-rule by theological justification . Marduk, the most prominent Babylonian god, is cited as entrusting Hammurabi with governing in Marduk’s name, numerous lesser deities are also named in support of the authority of Hammurabi’s code

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Parallels between Hammurabi’s code and the American justice system can be drawn. While America does maintain a separation of church and state, American law evolved from English law where the English king claimed a God given right of rulership. This is still evident when those involved in American court cases are required to pledge the Bible oath.
Athahasis and The Great Flood
Written in the 17th century B.C.E. Atrahasis was an epic account of a great flood in Babylonia . Lower gods were tasked with constructing the water-ways and other natural features around Mesopotamia, they complained about the work and the elder god Ea created humans to do the work instead . The humans annoyed the gods after some time and the god Enlil decided to get rid of the nuisance by drowning the land . Atrahasis is warned in a dream by the god Enki to build an Ark, which he does, and Atrahasis and everyone on board survives the flood . Atrahasis bears similarity to the biblical story (which was written after Atrahsis) involving a fellow named Noah. I am unclear whether the bible borrowed from Atrahasis or completely ripped the story off. In addition, I wonder if the Bible borrowed/stole anything else? The Epic of Gilgamesh, which is discussed later, may also be based on Atrahasis.
Mesopotamian Composition
A young Sumerian schoolboy is punished after having trouble mastering lessons . The boy invites his teacher home for dinner to meet with his father and to discuss lessons . During dinner, the teacher changes his opinion of the boy’s school performance over dinner, drinks, and gifts . The story of the schoolboy, written around 2000 B.C.E. is a rare glimpse into Mesopotamian life . We can see that some aspects of life have not changed all that much over the course of thousands of years. While (most) modern day students do not have the threat of caning hanging over them, the anxiety the boy must have felt over his studies is still relatable. We can also see that brown-nosing was alive and well in the ancient world.
The Great Flood: The Epic of Gilgamesh vs the Genesis Account
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a tale of the legendary king of Uruk and his quest for immortality . The story resembles Atrahasis, but features a different protagonist. Ut-Napishtim, a human, is warned of an impending flood by the god Ea and instructed to build a large ark to survive the coming flood . The Epic of Gilgamesh, like Atrahasis, shares commonality with the Bible’s story of Noah and the Ark:
• Ea decides to destroy humanity due to their wickedness;
• Ut-Napishtim dreams that Ea warns him of the flood;
• Ut-Napishtim builds an Ark;
• A great rain covers the earth past the mountain tops .
Ut-Napishtim survives the flood and becomes immortal thereafter .

Gilgamesh later endeavors to find Ut-Napishtim hoping to gain the knowledge of immortality for himself — but fails . Genesis says: “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them .” The Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis both have a God or Gods who are upset with their human creations and elect to kill them all by flooding. Both cultures must have experienced a huge flood and made nearly identical stories about that event, or one of the storytellers is appropriating the story.
Assyrian & Persian Governance of Babylonia
Assyrian rulers were brutal in conducting warfare . Assyrian troops damaged infrastructure, interfered with food production, and were cruel to prisoners . The Assyrian king Ashurbanipal during the capture of Babylon smashed prisoners underneath the statues of Babylonian gods, then fed the remains to animals .
As a counter to Assyrian rule, the Persian king Cyrus took a far gentler approach when he conquered Babylon . Cyrus disallowed looting or mistreatment of the populace and restored damaged buildings in the city

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The differences between Assyrian and Persian rule could not be more different. Assyrians terrorized their opponents into submission, while king Cyrus of Persia was kinder and more inclusive. Persia would expand into a large and well-remembered empire. Cyrus’s approach seems superior given the historical results.

Bibliography
King, L.W. The Code of Hammurabi. (Paulo J. S. Pereira, MMXI, licensed under creative commons), 6-30, http://www.general-intelligence.com/library/hr.pdf.
Kramer, Samuel Noah. Schooldays: A Sumerian Composition Relating to The Education of a Scribe. (University Museum, University of Pennsylvania), 199.
Livius.org. The Epic of Atraḥasis. (Livius.org, 1995-2017), http://www.livius.org/sources/content/anet/104-106-the-epic-of-atrahasis/.
Mark, Joshua J. The Eternal Life of Gilgamesh. (Ancient History Encyclopedia October 13, 2010), http://www.ancient.eu/article/192/.
Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western civilization. (Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning, 2015),10.