Code of Lipit-Ishtar

cuneiform law

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June 30, 2026

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The Code of Lipit-Ishtar is an ancient Mesopotamian legal text written in Sumerian around 1934–1924 BCE. It predates the more famous Code of Hammurabi by over a century. This legal compilation, part of the broader tradition of cuneiform law, includes a prologue, articles, and an epilogue, typical of such ancient legal documents. The code addresses various legal matters, including the rights of individuals, marriage, inheritance, property, and contracts. Cuneiform law encompasses legal systems from various ancient Middle Eastern civilizations that used cuneiform script. These codes, while inspired by divine authority, were secular legislation enacted by rulers and often focused on specific cases rather than comprehensive legal theories.123

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cuneiform law
…Sumerian law is the so-called Code of Lipit–Ishtar (c. 1934–24 bc), which contains the typical prologue, articles, and epilogue and deals with such matters as the rights of persons, marriages, successions, penalties, and property and contracts.
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…Sumerian law is the so-called Code of Lipit–Ishtar (c. 1934–24 bc), which contains the typical prologue, articles, and epilogue and deals with such matters as the rights of persons, marriages, successions, penalties, and property and contracts.
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epigraphy
Ancient Mesopotamia
…those of the Sumero-Akkadian king Lipit-Ishtar (in Sumerian) and King Bilalama of Eshnunna (in Akkadian) during the interval of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, and the rise of the Amorite dynasty of Hammurabi (c. 2000 bce), culminating in the great diorite stela of Hammurabi (c. 1750 bce), showing retardation and…
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…those of the Sumero-Akkadian king Lipit-Ishtar (in Sumerian) and King Bilalama of Eshnunna (in Akkadian) during the interval of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, and the rise of the Amorite dynasty of Hammurabi (c. 2000 bce), culminating in the great diorite stela of Hammurabi (c. 1750 bce), showing retardation and…
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history of Mesopotamia
Isin and Larsa
…added that the Code of Lipit-Ishtar stands exactly midway chronologically between the Code of Ur-Nammu and the Code of Hammurabi. Yet it is much closer to the former in language and especially in legal philosophy than to Hammurabi’s compilation of judgments. For example, the Code of Lipit-Ishtar does not know…
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…added that the Code of Lipit-Ishtar stands exactly midway chronologically between the Code of Ur-Nammu and the Code of Hammurabi. Yet it is much closer to the former in language and especially in legal philosophy than to Hammurabi’s compilation of judgments. For example, the Code of Lipit-Ishtar does not know…
Read More