Immortality

The discussion of the purpose behind the stela that Hammurabi built is an interesting one. I ultimately liked the sections from the law code that were pulled out to explain Hammurabi's motivation. It would make sense that Hammurabi would want to be remembered. He was a king who had struggled through battles, wars, and conquests. He was a king who spent countless hours delivering verdicts on cases large and small. He was a king who watched over his kingdom with a close eye. It is understandable that he would want something to commemorate his effort. The stela seems to be that thing. It is what the walls of Uruk were for Gilgamesh. The stela may not be the sole reason Hammurabi is well rembered to this day but it definately seems to have helped him establish his legacy. The fact that the code was quoted or referred to in almost every chapter of this biography speeks volumes about how much this stela has influenced the modern perception of his rule. The fact that the law code was not really needed was probably not too worrisome to Hammurabi, though it is a little ironic.