CODE OF KHAMMURAPI. A Babylonian code of laws, the oldest code in the world, discovered at Susa in 190I by M. J. de Morgan. Khammurapi flourished about 2100 B.C. Mr. W. St. Chad Boscawen points out that, although this is the oldest code of laws, " other tables of morality have existed, such as the Negative Confessions in the Egyptian Book of the Dead " (see BOOK OF THE DEAD). The following are examples of some of the laws (in the rendering of Chilperic Edwards): 109. If rebels meet in the house of a wine seller and she does not seize them and take them to the palace, that wine-seller shall be slain. 110. If a priestess who has not remained in the sacred building shall open a wine-shop, or enter a wine-shop for drink, that woman shall be burned. 142. If a woman bate her husband, and say " Thou shalt not possess me," the reason for her dislike shall be inquired into. If she is careful, and has no fault, but her husband takes himself away and neglects her; then that woman is not to blame. She shall take her dowry and go back to
her father's house. 143. If she has not been careful. but runs out, wastes her house and neglects her hus band; then that woman shall be thrown into the water. 229. If a builder has built a house for a man, and his work is not strong, and if the house he has built falls in and kills the householder, that builder shall be slain. 250. If a mad bull has rushed upon a man, and gored him, and killed him; that case has no remedy. 251. If a man's ox is known to be addicted to goring, and he has not blunted his horns, nor fastened up his ox; then if his ox has gored a free man and killed him, he shall give half a mina of silver. See W. St. Chad Boscawen, The First of Empires, 1903; Chilperic Edwards, The Oldest Laws i-n the 1Vorta, I906.