Ancient Babylonia - The Hammurapi Stele

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The Hammurapi Stele
Amorite Kingdom of Babylonia

This stele has inscribed on it the laws of Hammurapi
Discovered in Susa

This sculpture depicts King Hammurapi on top of the seven-foot tall stela containing his law code, which was written sometime after 1800 BC. Hammurapi established a unified system of laws and penalties within his expanding kingdom.

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Close up of the Top

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Close up of the Carved Block


This close up of the actual law codes reveals how the carved block covers edicts of a wide range of legal matters, for example the detail here reads:

"If a free man has accused another free man and has brought a charge of murder against him but has not proved it, his accuser shall be put to death."

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Ancient Babylonia

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