Hammurabi - Biography, Legacy and depictions

Amorite king of Babylon (c.1792–1750 BC), best known for his Code of Laws. He is also famous for his military conquests that made Babylon the greatest power in Mesopotamia.

Hammurabi is credited with achieving the conquest of Sumer and Akkad,and ending the last Sumerian dynasty of Isin. He was the first king of the Babylonian Empire, giving Babylon hegemony over Mesopotamia.

Biography

As with any dates from the early 2nd millennium BC, the dates of Hammurabi's life are highly uncertain and subject to wide disagreement among various sources, However, according to the middle chronology, Hammurabi was born around 1810 BC and reigned over the Babylonian Empire from 1792 BC until his death in 1750 BC (corresponding to 1728-1686 BC short chronology). In the 30th year of his reign, Hammurabi crushed an invading army consisting of Elamite and other forces in a decisive battle, and drove them out of Babylonia. A great literary revival followed the recovery of Babylonian independence, and the rule of Babylon was obeyed as far as the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Vast numbers of contract tablets, dated in the reigns of Hammurabi and his successors, have been discovered, as well as their autographed letters.

Hammurabi expanded the rule of Babylon by first conquering cities towards the south, before his conquest expanded to cover most parts of Mesopotamia. Hammurabi is also credited with improving irrigation in Babylon.

Hammurabi is perhaps best known for his promulgation of the new code of Babylonian law–the Code of Hammurabi.

Following Hammurabi's successors, the Babylonian Empire collapsed due to military pressure from the Hittites, led by their king Mursili I. Although there were many rebellious cities, the Kassites ruled for 400 years, and respected the Code of Hammurabi.

Legacy and depictions

Because of the legacy of Hammurabi as a lawgiver, Hammurabi is depicted in several U.S. government buildings. Hammurabi in one of the 23 lawgivers depicted in marble bas-reliefs in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives in the United States Capitol. An image of Hammurabi receiving the Code of Hammurabi from the Babylonian sun god (probably Shamash) is depicted on the frieze on the south wall of the U.S. Supreme Court building.

Hammurabi also lent his name to one of the very first computer games, Hamurabi.