Hittite laws

A Hittite tablet found at Hattusa, believed to be a legal deposition.

The Hittite laws, also known as the Code of the Nesilim, constitute an ancient legal code dating from c. 1650 – 1500 BCE.[1][2][3][4] They have been preserved on a number of Hittite cuneiform tablets found at Hattusa (CTH 291–292, listing 200 laws). Copies have been found written in Old Hittite as well as in Middle and Late Hittite, indicating that they had validity throughout the duration of the Hittite Empire (ca. 1650–1100 BCE).

The Hittite laws reflected the empire's social structure, sense of justice, and morality, addressing common outlawed actions such as assault, theft, murder, witchcraft, and divorce, among others. The code is particularly notable due to a number of its provisions, covering social issues that included the humane treatment of slaves. Although they were considered lesser than free men, the slaves under the code were allowed to choose whomever they wanted to marry, buy property, open businesses, and purchase their freedom.[5] In comparison with The Code of Assura or the Code of Hammurabi, the Code of Nesilim also provided less-severe punishments for the code's violations.[5]

  1. ^ From: Oliver J. Thatcher, ed., The Library of Original Sources (Milwaukee: University Research Extension Co., 1901), Vol. III: The Roman World, pp. 9-11.
  2. ^ "halsall/ancient/1650nesilim". fordham.edu. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  3. ^ "The Mariners' Museum and Park".
  4. ^ Smith, M.D. (2004). Encyclopedia of Rape. Greenwood Press. p. 15. ISBN 9780313326875. Retrieved 2015-04-21.
  5. ^ a b "Code Of Nesilim: Ancient Laws Of The Hittites | Ancient Pages". Ancient Pages. 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2018-07-24.