Hittite Laws

( ca. 1650–1400 BCE ) Commentary by Terri Tanaka, University of California, Berkeley

“[If] anyone kills [a man] or a woman in a [quarr]el, he shall [bring him] for burial and shall give 4 persons, male or female respectively. He shall look [to his house for it.]” - Law 1
“When [a delegation of] Hittites, men owing šahhan-services, came, they did reverence to the father of the king, and said: ‘No one pays us a wage. They say to us: You are men required to perform your jobs as a šahhan-service!' The father of the king stepped into the assembly and declared under his seal: ‘You must continue to perform šahhan-services just like your colleagues.'” - Law 55
“If anyone breaks the horn or leg of an ox, he shall take that ox for himself and give an ox in good condition to the owner of the injured ox. If the owner of the ox says: ‘I will take my own ox,' he shall take his ox, and the offender shall pay 2 shekels of silver.” - Law 74
“If anyone steals a vine, a vine branch, a … , or an onion/garlic, formerly [they paid] one shekel of silver for one vine and one shekel of silver for a vine branch.… But now if he is a free man, he shall pay 6 shekels [of silver].” - Law 101

Sculptures of large figures thought to be Hittite gods on a rock wall at Gavurkale, Turkey (Library of Congress)

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