The Hammurapi Stele

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.

Close up of the Top

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.