Monday, February 13, 2012

How does the Hammurabi's Code reveal information about religious and magical beliefs?

How does the Hammurabi's Code reveal information about religious and magical beliefs? textual evidence from the code itself would be very nice !How does the Hammurabi's Code reveal information about religious and magical beliefs?Here's an English translation of the Code -- take a look.



I think that this law code is very humanistic -- it is rarely based on magically or religious beliefs. Laws are made with a rational basis -- see examples below. However - the prologue and epilogue are very religious calling upon the blessings of the Gods, pointing out how pious Hammurabi's is, He appeals not just to the "head" god but to all the various deities within their provenance.



However -- there are a lot of laws that demand a death sentence and the proof guilt or innocence is floating in water -- so obviously that is an element of magical/religious belief.



Law 2 = If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser.

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Law 224 = If a veterinary surgeon perform a serious operation on an *** or an ox, and cure it, the owner shall pay the surgeon one-sixth of a shekel as a fee.



Law 137 = If a man wish to separate from a woman who has borne him children, or from his wife who has borne him children: then he shall give that wife her dowry, and a part of the usufruct of field, garden, and property, so that she can rear her children. When she has brought up her children, a portion of all that is given to the children, equal as that of one son, shall be given to her. She may then marry the man of her heart.



You attended the class ....you tell me!! :)
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