I) The Code of Hammurabi

This is an extensive source, so I have provided the following link to a PDF document on the Web. http://www.general-intelligence.com/library/hr.pdf

Questions for this source:
a) In the Code, why does Hammurabi feel justified in setting forth his law code?
b) What are some of the penalties? Do they strike you as too harsh to be fair?
c) What law amongst these laws stands out for you and why?

Your answer should be about 3-4 paragraphs in length.

II) Excerpt from the Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Negative Confessions

[THE FOLLOWING] WORDS SHALL BE SAID BY THE STEWARD OF THE KEEPER OF THE SEAL, NU, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH, WHEN HE COMETH FORTH TO THE HALL OF MAATI, SO THAT HE MAY BE SEPARATED FROM EVERY SIN WHICH HE HATH COMMITTED, AND MAY BEHOLD THE FACES OF THE GODS.

The Osiris Nu, whose word is truth, saith: Homage to thee, O great God, Lord of Maati! I have come unto thee, O my Lord, and I have brought myself hither that I may behold thy beauties. I know thee, I know thy name, I know the names of the Forty-two Gods who live with thee in this Hall of Maati, who live by keeping ward over sinners, and who feed upon their blood on the day when the consciences of men are reckoned up in the presence of the god Un-Nefer. In truth thy name is Rehti-Merti-Nebti-Maati. In truth I have come unto thee, I have brought Maati (Truth) to thee. I have done away sin for thee.

1) I have not committed sins against men.
2) I have not opposed my family and kinsfolk.
3) I have not acted fraudulently in the Seat of Truth.
4) I have not known men who were of no account.
5) I have not wrought evil.
6) I have not made it to be the first [consideration daily that unnecessary] work should be done for me.
7) I have not brought forward my name for dignities (i.e. nominated myself for honors).
8) I have not [attempted] to direct servants. [1]
9) I have not belittled God.
10) I have not defrauded the humble man of his property.
11) I have not done what the gods abominate.
12) I have not vilified a slave to his master.
13) I have not inflicted pain.
14) I have not caused anyone to go hungry.
15) I have not made any man to weep.
16) I have not committed murder.
17) I have not given the order for murder to be committed.
18) I have not caused calamities to befall men and women.
19) I have not plundered the offerings in the temples.
20) I have not defrauded the gods of their cake-offerings.
21) I have not carried off the fenkhu cakes [offered to] the Spirits.
22) I have not committed fornication with men, women or children.
23) I have not masturbated [in the sanctuaries of the god of my city].
24) I have not diminished from the bushel.
25) I have not filched [land from my neighbour's estate and] added it to my own acre.
26) I have not encroached upon the fields [of others].
27) I have not added to the weights of the scales.
28) I have not depressed the pointer of the balance (i.e. also fixing scales).
29) I have not carried away the milk from the mouths of children.
30) I have not driven the cattle away from their pastures.
31) I have not snared the geese in the goose-pens of the gods.
32) I have not caught fish with bait made of the bodies of the same kind of fish.
33) I have not stopped water when it should flow.
34) I have not made a cutting in a canal of running water.
35) I have not extinguished a fire when it should burn.
36) I have not violated the times [of offering] the chosen meat offerings.
37) I have not driven away the cattle on the estates of the gods.
38) I have not turned back the god at his appearances.

I am pure. I am pure. I am pure. My pure offerings are the pure offerings of that great Benu which dwelleth in Hensu. For behold, I am the nose of Neb-nefu (the lord of the air), who giveth sustenance unto all mankind, on the day of the filling of the Utchat in Anu, in the second month of the season Pert, on the last of the month, [in the presence of the Lord of this earth]. I have seen the filling of the Utchat in Anu, therefore let not calamity befall me in this land, or in this Hall of Maati, because I know the names of the gods who are therein, [and who are the followers of the Great God].

Source: From the Book of the Dead Translated by E.A. Wallis Budge Brit. Mus. No. 10477, Sheet 22
1) By reading this source, what aspects of society do you find that were most important to the Ancient Egyptians?
2) How does Egyptian morality compare with that of Judeo-Christian morality?
3) What parts of the confession stand out for you?

Your answer should be 3-4 paragraphs in length.

III) The Harem Conspiracy against Ramesses III (1167 BC)

Ramesses III ruled 1186 to 1155BC, and in 1167 was nearly murdered in a palace conspiracy that included members of his own harem of wives and concubines. It is thought that this occurred because on of Ramesses wives, Teya, hoped to kill him and replace him with her own son rather than the designated successor, Ramesses IV. The following records the charges against the 33 individuals (including 6 women) involved in the conspiracy.

Persons brought in because of the great crimes which they had committed, and placed in the court of examination before the great nobles of the court of examination, that they might be examined by:

The overseer of the White House, Mentemtowe;
The overseer of the White House, Pefroi;
The standard-bearer, Kara;
The butler, Pebes;
The scribe of the archives, Mai,
The standard-bearer, Hori.

They examined them; they found them guilty; they brought their punishment upon them; their crimes seized them. White House: The Treasury

The great criminal, Pebekkamen, formerly chief of the chamber.
He was brought in because of his collusion with Tiy and the women of the harem. He made common cause with them, and began bringing out their words to their mothers and their brothers who were there, saying: "Stir up the people! Incite enemies to hostility against their lord." He was placed before the great nobles of the court of examination; they examined his crimes; they found that he ha committed them. His crimes seized him; the nobles who examined him brought his judgment upon him.

The great criminal, Mesedsure, formerly butler.
He was brought in because of his collusion [with] Pebekkamen, formerly chief of the chamber, and with the women to stir up enemies to hostilities against their lord. He was placed before the great nobles of the court of examination; they examined his crimes; they found im guilty; they brought his punishment upon him. Mesedsure: a pseudonym meaning "Re hates him"

The great criminal, Peynok, formerly overseer of the king's [...] of the harem, [in the suite].
He was brought in because of his making common cause with Pebekkamen and Mesedsure, to commit hostility against their lord. He was placed before the great nobles of the court of examination; they examined his crimes; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him. in the suite: while following. Part of the harem accompanied the king when he was travelling through Egypt.

The great criminal, Pendua, formerly scribe of the king's [...] of the harem, [in the suite].
He was brought in because of his making common cause with Pebekkamen and Mesedsure, the other criminal, formerly overseer of the king's [...] and the women of the harem, to make a conspiracy with them, to commit hostility against their lord. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination; they examined his crimes; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.

The great criminal, Petewnteamon, formerly inspector of the harem, [in the suite].
He was brought in because of his hearing the words which the people discussed with the women of the harem, without reporting them. He was placed before the great nobles of the court of examination; they examined his crimes; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.

The great criminal, Kerpes, formerly inspector of the harem, [in the suite].
He was brought in because of the words which he had heard and had concealed. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination. They found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.
The great criminal, Khamopet, formerly inspector of the harem, [in the suite].
He was brought in because of the words which he had heard and had concealed. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination. They found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.

The great criminal, Khammale, formerly inspector of the harem, [in the suite].
He was brought in because of the words which he had heard and had concealed. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.

The great criminal, Setimperthoth, formerly inspector of the harem, [in the suite].
He was brought in because of the words which he had heard and had concealed. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.

The great criminal, Setimperamon, formerly inspector of the harem, [in the suite].
He was brought in because of the words which he had heard and had concealed. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.

The great criminal, Weren, who was butler.
He was brought in because of his hearing the words from the chief of the chamber, and when he had [withdrawn from] him, he concealed them and did not report them. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.

The great criminal, Eshehebsed, formerly assistant of Pebekkamen.
He was brought in because of his hearing the words from Pebekkamen; and when he had left him, he did not report them. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.

The great criminal, Peluka, formerly butler and scribe of the White House.
He was brought in because of his collusion with Pebekkamen, having heard the words from him, without reporting them. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him. Peluka: the Lycian. The Luka were one of the Sea Peoples

The great criminal, the Libyan, Yenini, formerly butler.
He was brought in because of his collusion with Pebekkamen, having heard the words from him, without reporting them. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.

Wives of the people of the harem-gate, who united with the men, when the things were discussed; who were placed before the nobles of the court of examination; they found them guilty; they brought their punishment upon them: six women.

The great criminal, Pere, son of Ruma, formerly overseer of the White House.
He was brought in because of his collusion with the great criminal, Penhuibin, making common cause with him to stir up enemies to hostility against their lord. He was placed before the nobles of the court of examination; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him.

The great criminal, Binemwese, formerly captain of archers in Nubia.
He was brought in because of the letter, which his sister, who was in the harem, [in the suite], had written to him, saying: "Incite the people to hostility! And come thou to begin hostility against thy lord." He was placed before Kedendenna, Maharbaal, Pirsun, and Thutrekhnefer; they examined him; they found him guilty; they brought his punishment upon him. Binemwese: a pseudonym, meaning "Wicked in Thebes"

Persons brought in because of their crimes and because of their collusion with Pebekkamen, Peyes, and Pentewere.
They were placed before the nobles of the court of examination in order to examine them; they found them guilty; they left them in their own hands in the court of examination; they took their own lives; and no punishment was executed upon them. they left them in their own hands: The judges left the criminals to execute their own punishment
The great criminal, Peyes, formerly commander of the army.
The great criminal, Messui, formerly scribe of the house of sacred writings.
The great criminal, Perekamenef, formerly chief.
The great criminal, Iroi, formerly overseer of the [...] of Sekhmet.
The great criminal, Nebzefai, formerly butler.
The great criminal, Shedmeszer, formerly scribe of the house of sacred writings.
Total, 6. Collusion, or the knowledge of a crime about to be committed without reporting it to the authorities was considered a lesser crime, and the accused were allowed to take their own lives.
Persons who were brought in, because of their crimes, to the court of examination, before Kedendemia, Maharbaal, Pirsun, Thutrekhnefer, and Mertusamon.
They examined them concerning their crimes; they found them guilty; they left them in their place; they took their own lives.
Pentewere, who bore that other name.
He was brought in because of his collusion [with] Tiy, his mother, when she discussed the words with the women of the harem, being hostile against his lord. He was placed before the butlers, in order to examine him; they found him guilty; they left him in his place; he took his own life.
The great criminal, Henutenamon, formerly butler.
He was brought in because of the crimes of the women of the harem; having been among them, and having heard (them), without reporting them. He was placed before the butlers, in order to examine him; they found him guilty, they left him in his place; he took his own life.
The great criminal, Pere, formerly scribe of the king's [...] of the harem, [in the suite].
He was brought in because of the crimes of the women of the harem; having been among them, and having heard (them), without reporting them. He was placed before the butlers, in order to examine him; they found him guilty; they left him in his place; he took his own life.
Persons upon whom punishment was executed by cutting off their noses and their ears, because of their forsaking the good testimony delivered to them. The women had gone; had arrived at their place of abode, and had there caroused with them and with Peyes. Their crime seized them.
This great criminal, Pebes, formerly butler.
This punishment was executed upon him; he was left (alone); he took his own life.
The great criminal, Mai, formerly scribe of the archives.
The great criminal, Teynakhte, formerly officer of infantry.
The great criminal, Oneney, formerly captain of police. This seems to have been an attempt by Peyes and the women from the harem to pervert the course of justice. Mai and Pebes had been appointed members of the court trying the conspirators. The officers, Teynakhte and Oneney, may have been in charge of the prisoners and let them out to visit the judges.
cutting off their noses and their ears: a shameful mark, at times in conjunction with deportation
the good testimony: the king's instructions
at their place of abode: at the place of abode of the accused
caroused: lit. made a beer-hall.
Person who had been connected with them; they had contended with him, with evil and violent words; he was dismissed; punishment was not executed upon him:
The great criminal, Hori, who was standard-bearer of the infantry. Hori too may have been one of the judges. In this record he is called Xrw, meaning fallen or miserable, rendered as great criminal by Breasted, despite being found innocent. This may be indicative of a principle of presumed guilt.

Questions for this Source:
a) Discuss the participants in the conspiracy. Who judged them of their crimes? What were their roles in attempting to assassinate the Pharaoh? What were their punishments?

Your answer should be about 3-4 paragraphs in length.

I) The Code of Hammurabi This is an extensive source, so I have...