The Code of Hammurabi (Full Text)

The Code of Hammurabi is a law code of ancient Babylon, set down by King Hammurabi around 1,750 BC. The code survives on several large stele and clay tablets, none of which are fully intact so there are occasional lacunae in the text. Hammurabi’s laws are where we derive the expression “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth“, as these punishments are meted out to atone for the crimes they mirror. This is a common theme of ancient Mesopotamian law, and Hammurabi was no different. What was different about Hammurabi is how fair-minded he is. Although the laws seem excessively draconian, they are still quite fair. They do, of course, patriarchal and distinguish by class and gender, but slaves and women are given surprisingly even-handed rulings.