Code of Hammurabi, 1750 BC
Top portion of the Hammurabi stelae. Hammurabi is depicted as standing before Sun God, Shamash with part of the prologue and laws visible beneath. Hammurabi (1810-1750 BC)) was the sixth king of Babylon. He became the first king of the Babylonian Empire following the abdication of his father, Sin-Muballit, extending Babylon's control over Mesopotamia by winning a series of wars against neighboring kingdoms. Hammurabi is known for the set of laws called Hammurabi's Code, one of the first written codes of law in recorded history. These laws were inscribed on stone tablets (stele) standing over eight feet tall, of unknown provenance, found in Persia in 1901. The stele is decorated with a bas-relief of Hammurabi being commissioned by the sun god Shamash to inscribe the laws. The code contains nearly 4,000 lines of text containing around 282 laws, a historical prologue, and a literary and religious epilogue. Owing to his reputation in modern times as an ancient law-giver, Hammurabi's portrait is in many government buildings throughout the world.
Size: 2100px × 4495px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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