Hammurabi Vs Exodus

Similarly, the Code of Hammurabi from ancient Mesopotamia diffused into the Hebrew law. The Exodus also included a similar phrase of the principle of retaliation, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe” . Contrary to the Code of Hammurabi, the Exodus did not divide the Hebrews into social classes. Whether monotheism or polytheism, both Mesopotamian and Hebrew laws are significantly similar as there are also monetary compensations. For instance, “When men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that there is a miscarriage and yet no harm follows, the one who hurt her shall be fined” . The Hebrew law also addressed individuals that disrespected God stating, “You

The Egyptians rejoiced to both living and deceased pharaohs like gods. “Hymns to the Pharaohs” showed the praises to Ramesses IV, who was also viewed as the god Horus. “What a happy day! Heaven and earth rejoice, thou art the great lord of Egypt… Beautiful is Horus on the throne of Amūn who sendeth him forth, the protector of the Prince, who bringeth every land” (“Hymns to the Pharaohs”) . Egyptians praised their pharaohs for blessings. In the hymn, Egyptians described their happy life with the gifts of the pharaoh. The gifts included food, water, clean clothing, land restoration, and freedom from

Like Mesopotamians, Egyptians perceived that all occurrences were from gods through myths. From the first civilizations, the Greeks were able to interpret the role of the gods not by myths, but by rational thinking. The Greek civilization consisted of many philosophers including Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates. Through these philosophers, the Greeks understood that laws were created from humans with rationality whereas both Mesopotamians and Egyptians saw laws as god given. In Homer’s Iliad, the poet presented the importance of human choice and actions but humans were still governed by the gods. Hector, a great warrior, was forced to battle with Achilles. Hector’s wife, Andromache, tried to persuade Hector from battling. As human, he had the ability to make a decision, which was to battle Achilles, who was angry for Patroclus’s death. Homer states, “Fate is a thing that no man born of woman, coward or hero, can escape” with the voice of Hector. Like the Epic of Gilgamesh from Mesopotamia, Homer portrayed an individual’s fate and death. A human is incapable of changing their fate as the gods have determined