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Essay On The Law Code Of Hammurabi

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HUM1001
Art History: Prehistory to the Middle Ages
W2 Project Exploring the Art and Architecture of the Ancient Near East (Mesopotamia) and the Art from the Ancient Aegean.

Part 1- The Art of the Ancient Near East (Mesopotamia)

Example 1

Title: The Law Code of Hammurabi

Date: 1792–1750 BC

Place of origin: Sippar, city of the sun god Shamash

Detailed Description: Laws written in cuneiform, and Akkadian language on basalt stele. It is divided into three parts and contains 300 laws and legal decisions. At the top of the basalt stele is Hammurabi presenting himself to the god of justice, Shamash.

Historical Value: These set of laws set a tradition for laws over time and were created before biblical laws. Many of them made sense and are laws that we follow today morally. They speak of marriage, incest, and adultery. They also were the first to set order within its kingdom. …show more content…

This image proves that they were political in nature because the image of the king presenting himself to the sun god, god of justice, Shamash. This image represents that the king lives by the laws, and serves the sun god, god of justice. Underneath the king and the son god, the laws go into very detailed rules. The rules imply criminal and civil laws. These laws focused on “family law, slavery, and professional, commercial, agricultural and administrative law. Economic measures set prices and salaries” (Claire). It created fear into people, letting them know what wrong and what justice will be brought unto

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