Fort Hamilton Honors

Fort Hamilton Honors Harry Tan

Hamurabi’s code of law was created by a ruler by the name of Hammurabi, who ruled for nearly 43 years from 1792 to 1750 BC, and is the longest surviving text from the Old Babylonian period. Hammurabi’s code of law served many purposes, and is one several sets of laws in the ancient Near East. The codes of laws were created by Hammurabi to let his people know what was required of them. It also informed them of the consequences that would result from crime. Hammurabi’s code of law followed the old saying of “an eye for an eye,” or if you poke someone’s eye out, your eye shall be poked out as well for the sake of being fair and just. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Hammurabi) One law from Hammurabi’s codes of laws states that “If she has not borne him children, then her mistress may sell her for money.” This law is terribly unjust because a person’s life is priceless and should not be sold to anyone no matter how horrific the crime. This law is also considered unfair because if a woman is unable to bare children, it may be due to medical reason rather than personal reasons. (http://eawc.evansville.edu/anthology/hammurabi.htm) One other law stated in Hammurabi’s codes of law says “If a son strikes his father, his hands shall be hewn off.” Although one might agree that a child should never strike his or her parents, there is sure to be a better way to discipline a child other than to hewn off their hands. Hewing off a child’s hands is way beyond child abuse, and will give the child a reason to have everlasting hate for his or her parents. Another law from Hammurabi’s code of law states that, “If it kill the son of the owner the son of that builder shall be put to death.” This law like all other laws of Hammurabi is unjust and cruel. It demonstrates Hammurabi’s strong belief in the saying, “an eye for an eye.” The death of one’s son could’ve been influenced by weather, which would’ve effected the building in which the son was killed by. Hammurabi’s laws that followed the saying of “an eye for an eye,” can be related to modern day Mesopotamia. Although the penalties for one’s crime aren’t as harsh as it was during Hammurabi’s ruling, laws still follow the concept of “an eye for an eye.” An example of this is when one steals, he shall be imprisoned. This is an example for an eye for an eye because when one steals from another, he or she is harming them in which imprisoning them would be a justifiable penalty, it also fits the crime. 9http://www.harris-greenwell.com/HGS/Hammurabi)