Sunday, February 27, 2011

Glory for Hammurabi

There are several reasons to believe that Hammurabi might not have been a good leader, perhaps because of his strict laws and impossible rulings, but in the grand scheme of things, it is fair to say that Hammurabi was actually a very good king to the people of his city.

An example of this is the fact that he made Babylon a centralized location for individuals to come forth and live as a society, in social and political ways. He led the society to success, by watching out for the poor and the weak, and also from any corruption by individuals who were of higher economic status. He also brings together the city in a way, which shows city loyalty. His laws dispersed to all citizens of the city and unified them, instead of simply affecting a certain class of society.

An example of his supposed good deeds and ideology, which says that he will rectify anything, that goes wrongfully for the good man, is the stelae. This showcases some sort of legitimacy to the claim that he is a good and just king, and somewhat idolizes him as well.

Some say that the stelae may have been instated in order for him to idolize and glorify himself, whether it be fair or not. He may have thought that because these laws were so public and visible that it would give him more legitimacy than he may have deserved, or just clear up doubts about his leadership. However it is fair to interpret that because Hammurabi really did work so hard in his city, to protect his citizens and instate positive and just laws, that he deserved some sort of prize or recognition of his work as a good king.a

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