THE LAWS OF THE LIPIT-ISHTAR

Abstract

The article presents a Georgian translation of the Laws of Lipit-Ishtar, which has not been fully rendered into Georgian before. Lipit-Ishtar (1934-1924 BC) was the fifth ruler of the First Dynasty of Isin, which was established after the collapse of the Third Dynasty of Ur. The members of the dynasty ruled the city of Isin and held military and political power over the cities of Lower Mesopotamia. Although political and military dominance in the region shifted to Larsa, located to the south, shortly after the end of Lipit-Ishtar's reign, they remained an important cultural and strategic center.

Lipit-Ishtar was the successor of Ishme-Dagan and was later replaced by Ur-Ninurta. Some documents and royal inscriptions from his reign have survived, but Lipit-Ishtar is mainly known for hymns written in Sumerian in his honor and also for a legal code written in his name, which predates the famous Code of Hammurabi by approximately 100 years.

The annals of Lipit-Ishtar's reign report that he defeated the Amorites, restored peace, and established a legal system – he created laws. A diorite stele on which the laws were inscribed was erected in Nippur. Two fragments of this stele have survived to this day. The structure of the Laws of Lipit-Ishtar is similar to the oldest legal code known to us – the Code of Ur-Nammu. The Laws of Lipit-Ishtar consist of three parts:

1. Prologue;
2. Main part, which contains civil and criminal laws;
3. Epilogue.

1. Prologue: The prologue legitimizes the legal content of the code. Along with demonstrating the legitimacy of Lipit-Ishtar's rule, his achievements in establishing justice are described. More specifically, the prologue conveys the following key ideas:
   • Divine Mandate: The prologue begins by emphasizing that Lipit-Ishtar was appointed ruler by the supreme gods Anu and Enlil. This underscores his legitimacy and the fact that his rule is carried out by divine will.
   • Purpose of Governance: The purpose of the gods' appointment of Lipit-Ishtar is to establish justice in the land, eliminate complaints, eradicate enmity and violence, and ensure the prosperity of Sumer and Akkad. This portrays Lipit-Ishtar as a just and caring ruler.
   • Merits of Lipit-Ishtar: The text describes Lipit-Ishtar's titles and his connection to various important cities, highlighting his power and influence in the region.
   • Establishment of Justice: Lipit-Ishtar declares that by the word of the god Enlil, he established justice in the lands of Sumer and Akkad. This is the central theme that the entire prologue serves.
   • Liberation of the Oppressed and Restoration of Order: As a specific example, it is mentioned how Lipit-Ishtar liberated the oppressed people of various cities and regions and restored order. This specific action reinforces his reputation as a restorer of justice.
   • Establishment of Family Obligations: The final part of the prologue discusses the obligations established by Lipit-Ishtar among family members and also the imposition of certain service obligations on various social groups. This indicates his attempt to regulate not only legal but also social relations.

1. Main part: The main part includes almost fifty legal provisions that pertain to civil and criminal law. Specifically, the laws address: boats, agriculture, runaway slaves, false testimony, apprenticeship, marriage and inheritance issues, miscarriage, sexual relations, as well as hired oxen. In the surviving portion of the Laws of Lipit-Ishtar, with the exception of one specific instance of capital punishment (e. (P rev. iii' 7'-8')), the primary form of punishment is a fine in silver or grain. It is evident that for various offenses (damage to property, theft, physical injury, slander), the penalty stipulated is the payment of a certain amount of silver or grain to the benefit of the injured party. This indicates that in that period, material compensation played a significant role in legal accountability. The laws can be divided as follows:

Civil Law:

• Property Relations: a, 5, 7, 8, 11;
• Inheritance Law: b, c, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32;
• Family Law: 21, 28, 29, 30;
• Obligation Law: 34, 35, 36, 37;
• Other Civil Matters: 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20b, 20c.

Criminal Law:

• Bodily Injury and Miscarriage (d, f);
• Murder (e);
• Theft (9);
• Destruction of Another's Property (10);
• False Accusation (17);
• Slander on Sexual Matters (33).

1. Epilogue: The surviving parts of the epilogue explain that Lipit-Ishtar fulfilled the divine command and brought justice to his country. This part represents Lipit-Ishtar's attempt to ensure the perpetuity and authority of his laws. He uses both positive (blessing) and negative (curse) sanctions to deter any potential infringement upon his legal legacy and to emphasize the importance of the justice he established. The epilogue conveys the following key ideas:

• Divine Authority and Justice: Lipit-Ishtar again emphasizes that his legal activity is carried out by divine will, this time by the instruction of the god Utu. He declares that he established fair judicial proceedings and eradicated enmity, violence, weeping, lamentation, demands for justice, and complaints. This once again underscores his role as an establisher of justice.
• Erection of the Law Stele and Its Significance: Lipit-Ishtar declares that after establishing justice in the lands of Sumer and Akkad, he erected this stele (on which his laws were inscribed). This stele symbolizes his just rule and laws.
• Blessing for the Respectful: The text contains a blessing for those who respect the stele, do not damage his work, do not erase his inscription, and do not attribute it to themselves. A favorable future is foretold for them, including long life, prosperity, and the favor of the god Enlil.
• Curse for the Violators: A significant part of the text is devoted to a harsh curse for those who inflict any harm upon the stele, damage his work, enter the treasury, alter its pedestal, erase the inscription and inscribe their own name (instead of his), or compel a foreigner to remove it. Terrible punishment is foretold for them, including complete destruction and divine wrath.
• Additional Curses: The final parts of the text provide even more detailed and severe curses invoking specific deities. This further reinforces the dire consequences of disobeying the laws.

Keywords: Assyriology; Mesopotamia; Sumerian language;, Lipit-Ishtar; Laws.