Ancient Babylonia - Introduction to the Hammurapi Law Codes
Part 1 – The Introduction
Part 2 – The Code of Laws
Part 3 – The Epilogue Laws
When Anu the Sublime, King of the Anunaki, and Bel, the lord of Heaven and
earth, who decreed the fate of the land, assigned to Marduk, the over-ruling son
of Ea, God of righteousness, dominion over earthly man, and made him great among
the Igigi, they called Babylon by his illustrious name, made it great on
earth, and founded an everlasting kingdom in it, whose foundations are laid so
solidly as those of heaven and earth; then Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurapi,
the exalted prince, who feared God, 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;
so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten
the land, to further the well-being of mankind. Hammurapi, the prince, called
of Bel am I, making riches and increase, enriching Nippur and Dur-ilu beyond
compare, sublime patron of E-kur; who reestablished Eridu and purified the
worship of E-apsu; who conquered the four quarters of the world, made great the name
of Babylon, rejoiced the heart of Marduk, his lord who daily pays his devotions
in Saggil; the royal scion whom Sin made; who enriched Ur; the humble, the
reverent, who brings wealth to Gish-shir-gal; the white king, heard of Shamash,
the mighty, who again laid the foundations of Sippara; who clothed the
gravestones of Malkat with green; who made E-babbar great, which is like the heavens, the
warrior who guarded Larsa and renewed E-babbar, with Shamash as his helper;
the lord who granted new life to Uruk, who brought plenteous water to its
inhabitants, raised the head of E-anna, and perfected the beauty of Anu and Nana;
shield of the land, who reunited the scattered inhabitants of Isin; who richly
endowed E-gal-mach; the protecting king of the city, brother of the god Zamama; who
firmly founded the farms of Kish, crowned E-me-te-ursag with glory, redoubled
the great holy treasures of Nana, managed the temple of Harsag-kalama; the
grave of the enemy, whose help brought about the victory; who increased the power
of Cuthah; made all glorious in E-shidlam, the black steer, who gored the enemy;
beloved of the god Nebo, who rejoiced the inhabitants of Borsippa, the
Sublime; who is indefatigable for E-zida; the divine king of the city; the White,
Wise; who broadened the fields of Dilbat, who heaped up the harvests for Urash; the
Mighty, the lord to whom come scepter and crown, with which he clothes
himself; the Elect of Ma-ma; who fixed the temple bounds of Kesh, who made rich the
holy feasts of Nin-tu; the provident, solicitous, who provided food and drink for
Lagash and Girsu, who provided large sacrificial offerings for the temple of
Ningirsu; who captured the enemy, the Elect of the oracle who fulfilled the
prediction of Hallab, who rejoiced the heart of Anunit; the pure prince, whose
prayer is accepted by Adad; who satisfied the heart of Adad, the warrior, in
Karkar, who restored the vessels for worship in E-ud-gal-gal; the king who granted
life to the city of Adab; the guide of E-mach; the princely king of the city, the
irresistible warrior, who granted life to the inhabitants of Mashkanshabri,
and brought abundance to the temple of Shidlam; the White, Potent, who penetrated
the secret cave of the bandits, saved the inhabitants of Malka from
misfortune, and fixed their home fast in wealth;
who established pure sacrificial gifts for Ea and Dam-gal-nun-na, who made
his kingdom everlastingly great; the princely king of the city, who subjected the
districts on the Ud-kib-nun-na Canal to the sway of Dagon, his Creator; who
spared the inhabitants of Mera and Tutul; the sublime prince, who makes the face
of Ninni shine; who presents holy meals to the divinity of Nin-a-zu, who cared
for its inhabitants in their need, provided a portion for them in Babylon in
peace; the shepherd of the oppressed and of the slaves; whose deeds find favor
before Anunit, who provided for Anunit in the temple of Dumash in the suburb of
Agade; who recognizes the right, who rules by law; who gave back to the city of
Ashur its protecting god; who let the name of Ishtar of Nineveh remain in
E-mish-mish; the Sublime, who humbles himself before the great gods; successor of
Sumula-il; the mighty son of Sin-muballit; the royal scion of Eternity; the
mighty monarch, the sun of Babylon, whose rays shed light over the land of Sumer and
Akkad; the king, obeyed by the four quarters of the world; Beloved of Ninni,
am I. 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.
Part 1 – The Introduction
Part 2 – The Code of Laws
Part 3 – The Epilogue Laws
Ancient Babylonia
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