Analysis of the Hammurabi Code (Hammurabi ps2)

AN ANALYSIS OF THE HAMMURABI CODE

Authors and Publication Information

  • Author: R. H. Pfeiffer

  • Source: The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures

  • Volume: 36, No. 4

  • Date: July 1920

  • Pages: 310-315

  • Published by: The University of Chicago Press

  • Stable URL: JSTOR

Overview of the Hammurabi Code

  • The Laws of Hammurabi have been compared with:

    • The Mosaic laws

    • The Twelve Tables of Roman law

    • The Talmud

  • Despite these comparisons, none shed light on the arrangement of Babylonian laws.

  • Notable Contribution: Professor Lyon's analysis is regarded as the most thorough, suggesting that the laws were grouped under two primary headings:

    • Property (Laws 6-126)

    • Persons (Laws 127-282)

Purpose of the Analysis

  • The primary aim of this paper is to conduct a detailed analysis of the Hammurabi Code and highlight unexpected coincidences between ancient Babylonian laws and classical Roman jurisprudence.

ANALYSIS OF THE CODE

I. THE LAW OF PROCEDURE (Laws 1-5)

  • False Accusation (Laws 1-2): Outlines the consequences of making false accusations.

  • False Witness (Laws 3-4): Discusses the punishment for bearing false witness in a court of law.

  • False Decision (Law 5): Addresses accountability for making erroneous judicial decisions.

II. THE LAW OF PROPERTY (Laws 6-126)

1. The Possession of Property (Laws 6-52)

  • Illegal Possession (Laws 6-25): Defines illegal possession of private and public property.

    • Unwitnessed Theft (Laws 6-20):

    • Of things (Laws 6-13):

      • Sacred and public property (Laws 6-8)

      • Private property (Laws 9-13)

    • Of persons (Laws 14-20):

      • Theft of free persons (Law 14)

      • Theft of slaves (Laws 15-20)

    • Witnessed Theft (Laws 21-25):

    • Violent theft (Laws 21-24)

    • Clandestine theft (Law 25)

A. Legal Possession (Laws 26-52)

  • Benefice of Public Lands (Laws 26-41):

    • Conditional possession (Laws 26-31)

    • Inalienable possession (Laws 32-41)

  • Use of Private Lands (Laws 42-52):

    • Rented farms (Laws 42-47)

    • Mortgaged farms (Laws 48-52)

2. Ownership of Property (Laws 53-65)

  • Rights of the Owner (Laws 53-59):

    • Protection against damages caused by:

    • Water (Laws 53-56)

    • Cattle (Laws 57-58)

    • Man (Law 59)

  • Lease of Land (Laws 60-65): Details the legal obligations surrounding leasing agreements.

3. Acquisition of Property (Laws 100-126)

  • Forms of Commerce (Laws 100-126):

    • Partnership in trade (Laws 100-107)

    • Wine traffic (Laws 108-111)

    • Transportation of goods (Law 112)

    • Debt (banking) (Laws 113-119)

    • Storage of grain (Laws 120-121)

    • Deposit of valuables (Laws 122-126)

III. THE LAW OF PERSONS (Laws 127-282)

1. The Family (Laws 127-193)

  • Marriage (Laws 127-161):

    • Slander of wife (Law 127)

    • Marriage contract (Law 128)

    • Dissolution of marriage (Laws 129-143):

    • Adultery of wife (Laws 129-132)

    • Absence of husband (Laws 133-136)

    • Divorce:

      • By husband (Laws 137-140)

      • By wife (Laws 141-143)

  • Domestic Restrictions (Laws 144-152):

    • Personal restrictions (Laws 144-149):

    • Restrictions on taking a concubine (Laws 144-145)

    • Restrictions on selling a slave wife (Laws 146-147)

    • Restrictions on rights over a diseased wife (Laws 148-149)

    • Pecuniary restrictions (Laws 150-152):

    • Restrictions on heirs (Law 150)

    • Restrictions on seizures for debt (Laws 151-152)

  • Crimes Relating to Marriage (Laws 153-158):

    • Connivance of the wife with a murderer (Law 153)

    • Incest (Laws 154-158)

  • Breach of Promise (Laws 159-161): Outlines the penalties for failing to fulfill a marriage promise.

B. Inheritance (Laws 162-184)

  • The Wife's Estate (Laws 162-164): Heirs for the wife include:

    • Children (Law 162)

    • Father's house (Laws 163-164)

  • The Husband's Estate (Laws 165-184): Heirs include:

    • Grown-up sons (Laws 165-176):

    • Father free (Laws 165-171)

    • Mother free (Laws 165-169)

    • Mother slave (Laws 170-171)

    • Wife (Laws 171c-174)

    • Minor children (Law 177)

    • Daughters (Laws 178-184)

  • Adoption (Laws 185-193):

    • Conditions for reclaiming an adopted child (Laws 185-190):

    • Not reclaimable (Laws 185-188)

    • Reclaimable (Laws 189-190)

    • Inheritance issues concerning adopted sons (Law 191)

    • Ingratitude of adopted sons (Laws 192-193)

2. Liability (Laws 194-282)

  • Liability Arising from Tort (Laws 194-227):

    • Change of an infant by a nurse (Law 194):

    • Bodily injury or death (Laws 195-223):

      • Caused by assault (Laws 195-214):

      • Males (Laws 195-208)

      • Malicious injury (Laws 195, 196-199, 200-205)

      • Unintentional injury (Laws 206, 207-208)

      • Females with young (Laws 209-214)

    • Pecuniary loss (Laws 224-227)

    • Malpractice by:

      • Veterinary doctor (Laws 224-225)

      • Brander of slaves (Laws 226-227)

  • Liability Arising from Contract (Laws 228-282):

    • Hire of Labor (Laws 228-277):

    • Contract for various jobs (Laws 228-267):

      • House-building (Laws 228-233)

      • Boat-building (Laws 234-235)

      • Navigation (Laws 236-240)

      • Agriculture (Laws 241-260):

      • Specific provisions for oxen (Laws 241-252)

      • Overseer (Laws 253-256)

      • Farm laborer (Laws 257-258)

      • Theft (Laws 259-260)

      • Shepherding (Laws 261-267)

    • Contract by the Day (Laws 268-277):

    • Purchase of Labor (Slaves) (Laws 278-282):

    • Conditions for nullification of contracts (Laws 278-281)

    • Rebellious slaves (Law 282)

NOTES ON THE ANALYSIS

  • Comparison with Roman Law: The Hammurabi Code parallels Roman law distinctions such as:

    • Jus actionum

    • Jus rerum

    • Jus personarum

  • Characteristics of Hammurabi Laws:

    • The sharp separation between "possession" and "ownership".

  • Theoretical Implications on Legal Mention:

    • For Hammurabi, theft is classified as illegal possession, while modern interpretations often categorize it as a crime.

FINAL REMARKS

  • The structure and provisions present in the Hammurabi Code bear remarkable similarities to later legal systems, particularly Roman law, illustrating the development of legal concepts through history.

  • Continuous academic discourse around the Hammurabi Code emphasizes its relevance in understanding ancient laws and their implications toward present legal frameworks.