The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Preface
• List of Abbreviations
• Sources and Bibliography
• Laws and Contracts
• I: The Earliest Babylonian Laws
• II: The Code of Ammurabi
• III: Later Babylonian Law
• IV: The Social Organization of the Ancient Babylonian State
• V: Judges, Law-courts, and Legal Processes
• VI: Legal Decisions
• VII: Public Rights
• VIII: Criminal Law
• IX: The Family Organization
• X: Courtship and Marriage
• XI: Divorce and Desertion
• XII: Rights of Widows
• XIII: Obligations and Rights of Children
• XIV: The Education and Early Life of Children
• XV: Adoption
• XVI: Rights of Inheritance
• XVII: Slavery
• XVIII: Land Tenure In Babylonia
• XIX: The Army, CorvÉe, and Other Claims For Personal Service
• XX: The Functions and Organization of the Temple
• XXI: Donations and Bequests
• XXII: Sales
• XXIII: Loans and Deposits
• XXIV: Pledges and Guarantees
• XXV: Wages of Hired Laborers
• XXVI: Lease of Property
• XXVII: The Laws of Trade
• XXVIII: Partnership and Power of Attorney
• XXIX: Accounts and Business Documents
• Babylonian and Assyrian Letters
• I: Letters and Letter-writing Among the Babylonians and Assyrians
• II: The Letters of Ammurabi
• III: The Letters of Samsu-iluna and His Immediate Successors
• IV: Private Letters of the First Dynasty of Babylon
• V: Sennacherib’s Letters to His Father, Sargon
• VI: Letters From the Last Year of Shamash-shum-ukÎn
• VII: Letters Regarding Affairs In Southern Babylonia
• VIII: Letters About Elam and Southern Babylonia
• IX: Miscellaneous Assyrian Letters
• X: Letters of the Second Babylonian Empire
• Appendix
• I: The Prologue and Epilogue to the Code of Ammurabi
• Prologue to the Code of Ammurabi
• The Epilogue
• II: Chronology
• III: Weights and Measures
• I.: Weights
• II.: Measures of Capacity
• III.: Measures of Length
• IV.: Measures of Surface
• V.: Measures of Time
• IV: Bibliography of the Later Periods
• The New Babylonian Empire
• Persian Period
• Macedonian Period
• Arsacide Period

PROLOGUE TO THE CODE OF AMMURABI

When the most high God (Anu), king of the spirits of heaven (Anunnaki),(and)Bêl, lord of heaven and earth, who settles the fates of all, allotted to Marduk, the first-born of Ea, the lord God of right, a rule over men and extolled him among the spirits of earth (Igigi), then they nominated for Babylon a name above all, they made it renowned in all quarters, and in the midst of it they founded an everlasting sovereignty, whose seat is established like heaven and earth; then did God (Anu) and Bêl call me by name, ammurabi, the high prince, god-fearing, to exemplify justice in the land, to banish the proud and oppressor, that the great should not despoil the weak, to rise like the sun over the black-headed race (mankind) and illumine the land, to give health to all flesh. ammurabi the (good) shepherd, the choice of Bêl, am I, the completer of plenty and abundance, the fulfiller of every purpose. For Nippur, and Dûrili (epithet of Nippur or part of it?), I highly adorned ê-kur (the temple of Bêl there). In powerful sovereignty I restored Eridu and cleansed ê-zu-ab (temple of Ea there). By onslaughts on every side (the four quarters) I magnified the name of Babylon and rejoiced the heart of Marduk my lord. Every day I stood in ê-sag-gil (the temple of Marduk at Babylon). Descendant of kings whom Sin had begotten, I enriched the city of Ur, and humbly adoring, was a source of abundance to ê-ner-nu-gal (the temple of Sin at Ur). A king of knowledge, instructed by Shamash the judge, I strongly established Sippara, reclothed the rear of the shrine of Aya (the consort of Shamash), and planned out ê-bab-bar (temple of Shamash at Sippara) like a dwelling in heaven. In arms I avenged Larsa (held by the Elamite, Rim-Sin), and restored ê-bab-bar (temple of Shamash at Larsa) for Shamash my helper. As overlord I gave fresh life to Erech, furnishing abundance of water to its people, and completed the spire of ê-an-na (temple of Nanâ at Erech). I completed the glory of Anu and Ninni. As a protector of my land, I reassembled the scattered people of Nisin (recently reconquered from the Elamites) and replenished the treasury of ê-gal-ma (temple of Nisin). As the royal potentate of the city and own brother of its god Zamama, I enlarged the palace at Kish and surrounded with splendor ê-me-te-ur-sag (the temple at Kish). I made secure the great shrine of Ninni. I ordered the temple of arsagkalama ê-ki-sal-nakiri, by whose assistance I attained my desire. I restored Kutha and increased everything at ê-sid-lam (the temple there). Like a charging bull, I bore down my enemies. Beloved of tu-tu (a name of Marduk) in my love for Borsippa, of high purpose untiring, I cared for ê-zi-da (temple of Nabû there). As a god, king of the city, knowing and farseeing, I looked to the plantations of Dilbat and constructed its granaries for ib (the god of Dilbat) the powerful, the lord of the insignia, the sceptre and crown, with which he invested me. As the beloved of ma-ma (consort of ib), I set fast the bas-reliefs at Kish and renewed the holy meals for Erishtu (goddess of Kish). With foresight and power I ordered the pasturages and watering-places for Sirpurla and Girsu and arranged the extensive offerings in ê-50 (the temple of “the fifty” at Sirpurla). I scattered my enemies. As the favorite of Telitim (a god), I fulfilled the oracles of allab and rejoiced the heart of gis-dar (its goddess). Grand prince, whose prayers Adad knows well, I soothed the heart of Adad, the warrior in Bît Karkara. I fastened the ornaments in ê-ud-gal-gal (temple there). As a king who gave life to Adab, I repaired ê-ma (temple at Adab). As hero and king of the city, unrivalled combatant, I gave life to Mashkan-Shabri and poured forth abundance on sit-lam (temple of Nêrgal there). The wise, the restorer, who had conquered the whole of the rebellious, I rescued the people of Malkâ in trouble. I strengthened their abodes with every comfort. For Ea and dam-gal-nun-na I increased their rule and in perpetuity appointed the lustrous offerings. As a leader and king of the city, I made the settlements on the Euphrates to be populous. As client of Dagan, who begat me, I avenged the people of Mera and Tutul. As high prince, I made the face of Ninni to shine, making the lustrous meals of nin-a-zu secure. I reunited my people in famine by assuring their allowances within Babylon in peace and security. As the shepherd of my people, a servant whose deeds were acceptable to gis-dar in e-ul-mash (temple of Anunit) in the midst of Agade, noted for its wide squares, I settled the rules and set straight the Tigris. I brought back to Asshur the gracious colossus and settled the altar (?). As king of Nineveh I made the waters of Ninni to shine in ê-dup-dup. High of purpose and wise in achievement for the great gods, descendant of Sumu-lâil, eldest son of Sin-muballiṭ, long descended scion of royalty, great king, a very Shamash (or sun) of Babylon, I caused light to arise upon Sumer and Akkad. A king who commanded obedience in all the four quarters, beloved of Ninni am I. When Marduk brought me to direct all people and commissioned me to give judgment, I laid down justice and right in the provinces, I made all flesh to prosper. Then—(the words of the Code are the completion of the sentence. The king implies that its regulations were the outcome of this legislative decision).