What are Hittite Laws, What are their Articles and Features?

After the first city-states established in Mesopotamia in 10,000 BC, civilization spread rapidly and started to appear in neighboring geographies. One of the oldest and most important civilizations established in Anatolia, where we live today, is the Hittites. The Hittites soon became the dominant power of the region. and they secured this power with Hittite laws.

Many people think of the laws of Hammurabi when they think of ancient laws. Yes, but when we compare the Hittite laws with such known laws, we come across a much more humane picture. Although they were written thousands of years ago, they did not impose harsh punishments such as tit-for-tat and even gave important rights to slaves. Bride What are the Hittite laws? Let’s take a closer look and see its prominent features through its items.

Let’s start with the basics; What are the Hittite laws?

It was founded in 1600 BC and became an effective power in Anatolia, where it was founded until 1178 BC, when it was disbanded. The set of rules created by the Hittite civilization, They are called Hittite laws. Hittite laws, thought to have been made in the 1650s BC, were prepared during the reign of King Hattusili I.

In the Hittites, the king was also regarded as the commander-in-chief, chief judge, and high priest. Even if approved by a council of nobles called the Pankush The king had a wide jurisdiction. Despite all this, it is extremely important that the rules of law were determined based on 292 laws engraved with cuneiform on clay tablets.

How did the Hittite laws arise?

In Mesopotamia, the neighboring region of Anatolia, the first city-states were established and civilization took shape. To maintain social order Many written and unwritten rules were prepared and the foundations of law were laid. The Hittites, who were inevitably affected by all these while they founded the civilization, also prepared a set of rules in order to ensure the social order.

It is a fact that the Hittites were influenced by the rules of law in Mesopotamian civilizations. However, they never took them and tried to apply them one-to-one. Keeping the social structure of the people in the foreground have set their own rules. Since it was specially prepared for the Anatolian people, the death penalty, which barely kept the Mesopotamian peoples under control, was not used; instead, fines or beatings were deemed appropriate.

What are the Hittite laws? Let’s look at the items:

• If a man and a woman get married and divorce after having children, the house will be divided into two, and the woman will have one child and the man the other children.
• The penalty for murder is death.
• Whoever kills people during a fight pays four heads of people.
• The one who kills a captive pays two heads of people.
• Five oxen that steal and slaughter an ox, four lambs that steal and slaughter a lamb, and four goats that steal and slaughter a goat pay a price.
• He who sets a fire in the orchard, plants a new tree, and pays six silvers per tree.
• The thief is beaten and pays three times the silver for the stolen goods.
• The person who burns the field is given as a slave to the person whose field he burns.
• A sorcerer is killed or exiled.
• The house of the one who opposes the king’s decree is destroyed.
• Whoever kills a Hittite merchant pays 100 silvers.

This is the most important of the 292 Hittite laws engraved on clay tablets with cuneiform writing. When we examine these and other laws except murder and religion We see that the death penalty is not easily given. From this point of view, it is possible to say that the Hittite laws were extremely humane for the time period.

What are the characteristics of Hittite laws?

Since the Hittite laws were written in the 17th century BC, it is necessary to evaluate them according to the conditions of the period and taking into account the rules of the similar or previous period. According to the conditions of the period, the Hittite laws have very humane rules. Paying instead of harsh penalties like the tit-for-tat method was a great reform for that period. Of course, there was slavery at that time, and slave people calculated as the number of heads are also considered goods.

Of course, because of the laws of thousands of years ago, men are held superior to women, but still. women’s name in law In cases such as divorce and divorce, the fact that a woman can receive both a child and half of the property means that the foundations of the civil law have been laid.

The most striking issue in Hittite laws is the rights of slaves. It has not been forgotten that slaves are human, even if they are the property of their owner. to acquire property, It was even ensured that they could be free by paying the price and could marry a free woman by paying the bride price. Another interesting point is that protective measures have been taken against animals and nature.

Since slavery was solved in the 20th century and women’s rights are still unresolved issues, it is possible to say that the rules and punishments in the Hittite laws were extremely humane when we evaluate them independently of these two issues. It was at that time that Considering that the death penalty is the most common form of punishment even paying the ransom instead can be considered a progressive step.

Conclusion: Why are Hittite laws important?

The laws and rules applied by the first city-states in Mesopotamia, which laid the foundations of civilization, became the beginning of law and laid the foundations of this structure. However, the punishment applied in most of them consisted of extremely harsh methods such as tit-for-tat. Of course, in accordance with the conditions of the time instead of creating a social order of peace They aimed to fulfill the demands of the rulers unconditionally.

Even if these laws are the basis of law, one of the most important steps of the process that continues until today’s law has been the Hittite laws. These laws, which have been implemented for about 500 years, It is the first application of the principle of the importance of social structure in today’s law. For example, killing people is a crime all over the world, but the punishment conditions change according to the social structure of the country. This is the Hittite laws.

When we examine the Hittite laws, we can say that the concept of death was the same in the Hittite people as it is today. The death penalty is not easily given. and the crime of murder is punishable by death because it is seen as a grave misdemeanor. When we think about that period, women and slaves were given rights, animals and nature were protected to some extent; Among the striking features of the Hittite laws.

One of the oldest and most important civilizations established in Anatolia. What are the Hittite laws used in the Hittites? We answered the question in all its details over its items and features. You can share your thoughts on the subject in the comments.