The Code Remade: Hammurabi's Legacy in Kassite Babylonia

The Code of Hammurabi, a foundational legal monument of the Old Babylonian period, has long been celebrated for its comprehensive scope and influence on ancient Near Eastern jurisprudence. However, the exact nature of its legacy in subsequent periods, particularly during the Kassite dynasty (circa 1595-1155 BCE) that ruled Babylonia for over four centuries, remains a subject of considerable scholarly debate. This paper investigates the transmission, reception, and transformation of Hammurabi's legal principles and administrative practices within Kassite Babylonia. By examining extant Kassite legal documents, administrative texts, and royal inscriptions, this study aims to discern whether the Code functioned as a directly applicable legal manual, a revered source of legal precedent, or a foundational cultural artifact whose spirit subtly permeated Kassite legal thought and practice. Through a comparative analysis of legal terminology, case resolutions, and institutional structures between the Old Babylonian and Kassite periods, this research argues for a nuanced legacy where elements of Hammurabi's Code were selectively adapted, reinterpreted, or continued through customary law, rather than being universally enforced as a static code. The findings illuminate the dynamic nature of legal traditions in ancient Mesopotamia and underscore the Kassite capacity for integrating inherited cultural forms while forging a distinct political and legal identity.