Why Is The Code Of Hammurabi Unfair

“An eye for an eye…” is a known paraphrase of one of Hammurabi’s Code. Dating from 1760 B.C, the Code of Hammurabi was set forth by King Hammurabi of Babylon, who ruled from 1792-1750 BC. Hailed as the first code in Western history, the Code of Hammurabi consisted of 282 laws preserved on a seven-foot-high black stone stele. Hammurabi’s Code was fair because it maintained order and justice for Mesopotamians. Thought some of punishment might seem unfair, they were just because there was a possibility that certain crimes were committed less frequently because of Hammurabi’s Code. There are three areas of law where Hammurabi’s Code can be shown as just: property laws, family laws, and personal injury laws. First, there is the justness of property laws. The code states, “If a seignior committed robbery and has been caught, that seignior shall be put to death.”(Code of Hammurabi 1). When a seignior chooses to rob another individual, that seignior has ultimately made the decision to take another’s property without the intention of returning it. Citizens of

One law states, “If a son has struck his father, they shall cut his hand off” (Code of Hammurabi 4). Though the punishment for this law is extreme, it assured the father’s power over his son. This law was just because it set forth a level of respect for fathers in Mesopotamia. This law in place guaranteed that sons would not dare to hit their fathers because if they did, they would be handless. Moreover, the law also states, “If a seignior has had intercourse with his daughter, they shall make that seignior leave the city.” (Code of Hammurabi 3). One of the more reasonable laws, the punishment of the father leaving the city is appropriate because he should face consequences for taking advantage of his daughter in a sexual way. Thus, Hammurabi’s Code regarding family laws are both fair and just because it established guidelines for citizens’