Babylon Stele of Hammurabi.After the downfall of the Third Dynasty of Ur The Third Dynasty of Ur refers simultaneously to a 21st to 20th century BC (short chronology) Sumerian ruling dynasty based in the city of Ur and a short-lived territorial-political state that some historians regard as a nascent empire. from attacks by foreign invaders, the traditional Mesopotamian pattern emerged--independent city-states existing side-by-side. The Semite-speaking Amorites moved into the area from Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (sä  `dē ərā`bēə, sou`–, sô–), officially Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, kingdom (2005 est. pop. . They
established a strong dynasty in Isin and Larsa. A third group of Semitic
Amorites dominated Babylon. The region was eventually united under King
Hammurabi who ruled from 1792-1750 BC. The capital city was in Babylon,
and the people were known as Babylonians.
One of Hammurabi's notable achievements was a uniform code of law for the lands that he ruled. This stele stele (stē`lē), slab of stone or terra-cotta, usually oblong, set up in a vertical position, for votive or memorial purposes. Upon the slabs were carved inscriptions accompanied by ornamental designs or reliefs of particular significance. records the entire legal code Of some 300 laws in cuneiform cuneiform (ky nē`ĭfôrm) [Lat.,=wedge-shaped], system of writing developed before the last centuries of the 4th millennium B.C. , most of which deals with commercial
and property law. In the preamble to the code, Hammurabi declares that
the code is intended to ensure that justice prevails in the land, and to
make sure that the strong do not oppress op·press tr.v. op·pressed, op·press·ing, op·press·es 1. To keep down by severe and unjust use of force or authority: a people who were oppressed by tyranny. 2. the weak. The relief shows Hammurabi standing before the supreme judge, the sun god Shamash. Shamash wears the eight-horned crown as a symbol of his divinity. The god holds the measuring rod and rope ring, symbols of justice and power. Hammurabi's hand is raised in a gesture of greeting. The suggestion of familiarity in the close positioning of the figures is offset by the formality of the poses. This stele, like many that decorated Babylonian cities, was removed to Susa by Elamite invaders in the twelfth century BC when they sacked Babylon. The Elamites were an early Persian Kingdom centered in the modern-day Iranian province of Khuzistan. Elsewhere in the World The Twelfth Dynasty (1937-1759 BC) ruled Egypt. Pharaoh Amenemhet IV (1772-1763) oversaw widespread irrigation irrigation, in agriculture, artificial watering of the land. Although used chiefly in regions with annual rainfall of less than 20 in. (51 cm), it is also used in wetter areas to grow certain crops, e.g., rice. and temple building projects, and centralized cen·tral·ize v. cen·tral·ized, cen·tral·iz·ing, cen·tral·iz·es v.tr. 1. To draw into or toward a center; consolidate. 2. the pharaoh's authority. Questions Do you agree that Stele of Hammurabi is a sculpture that teaches? If so, what lessons does it teach? Can you think of other examples of art that teach Important lessons? Karl Cole is a curator of Davis Art Slides, a division of Davis Publications, Inc. in Worcester, Massachusetts. |
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