Laws of Eshnunna

ancient document

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

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The "Laws of Eshnunna" are ancient legal texts discovered on two tablets near Baghdad, Iraq. These laws are believed to predate the more famous Code of Hammurabi by about two generations. Eshnunna itself was an ancient city in the Diyala River valley, which later became part of Babylonia before declining.1

The Laws of Eshnunna are significant because they provide insight into the development of ancient legal systems in Mesopotamia. They are part of a succession of legal compilations from the region, including those of Ur-Nammu and Lipit-Ishtar, and are considered a precursor to Hammurabi's Code. The differences between these codes help historians understand the evolution of law in the ancient Near East.21

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Eshnunna
After the collapse of Ur, Eshnunna became independent but was later conquered by Hammurabi, king of Babylonia. During the next century the city fell into decline and may have been abandoned.
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After the collapse of Ur, Eshnunna became independent but was later conquered by Hammurabi, king of Babylonia. During the next century the city fell into decline and may have been abandoned.
Read More