The “Code of Hammurabi” a basalt stele. Hammurabi, who was the 6th Babylonian king, standing before the sun-god Shamash. It is depicted as receiving his royal insignia from Shamash. Circa 1792 BC-1750 BC. Height: 225cm & Circumference: 168cm. The Code consists of 282 laws, with scaled punishments, adjusting "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" (lex talionis) as graded depending on social status, of slave versus free man. Inscribed in the Akkadian language, using cuneiform script. Louvre.