Near Eastern IMAGE 19: The Law Code Stele of Hammurabi,

ID’s

MAGE 19: The Law Code Stele of Hammurabi, from Susa, Iran, ca. 1780 BCE. Basalt, 7’ 4” high. Louvre, Paris.

Stone slab used to mark a grave or site

STELE

Sculpture that projects from a flat background-- very shallow relief sculpture is called bas-relief (bah-relief)

RELIEF SCULPTURE:

System of writing in which the strokes are formed in a wedge or arrowhead shape

CUNEIFORM:

details the earliest law codes ever written (below main scene and on reverse)

Code of Hammurabi

Publicly displayed one of humanity's earliest comprehensive written legal codes, establishing uniform standards of justice across the entire Babylonian Empire.

Codification of Law:

 Visually asserts that Hammurabi’s laws were not just his personal opinion, but directly decreed and sanctioned by Shamash, the god of justice.

Propaganda & Divine Legitimacy

Placed in public spaces so citizens could consult the law, while warning potential criminals of severe consequences.

Deterrent & Reference:

Standing, receiving gifts from sun god (Sun god= god of justice Shamash)

Hammurabi

• Seated on a throne on the right, wearing a horned headdress with flames/rays erupting from his shoulders. His feet rest on a mountain-like platform.

Shamash (Sun God & God of Justice):

•  Stands respectfully on the left in a prayerful posture, hand raised to his mouth (salutary gesture).

Hammurabi (King of Babylon):

Shamash hands Hammurabi a scepter/rod and a coiled rope/ring—builder’s tools symbolizing the king's power to build order and measure out justice.

Symbols of Authority

 Hammurabi unified central and southern Mesopotamia through military conquest and centralized administration.

Babylonian Empire (~1792–1750 BCE):

The legal system operated on proportional retaliation, though penalties varied heavily depending on social class (slaves vs. elites).

Lex Talionis ("Eye for an Eye")

 Found in 1901 at Susa (modern-day Iran), where it had been carried off as war loot by the Elamites around 1150 BCE.

Rediscovery:

Stele (Carved Basalt stone) with inscription and low relief sculptural image at the top.

Form

Hammurabi is depicted receiving tools and laws from god Shamash, above 300 written codes of law and punishment. Introduces “eye for an eye” manner of governing and punishment. 

Content

To emphasize Hammurabi’s right to rule as being divine and blessed by the gods and give additional weight/authority to the new code of laws bc they are divinely given. 

Function

Created in Babylon to introduce laws.

Context