Hammurabi (ca. 1792–1750 BC), was the greatest ruler in the first Babylonian dynasty. He became king of Mesopotamia (today's Iraq) and reigned for 40 years during which he transformed Mesopotamia into the world's first metropolis.1 The greatness of Babylon is largely attributed to him. He was a very successful military leader who, through his campaigns, extended the empire from the Persian Gulf in the north, through the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

Hammurabi's main contribution was his much celebrated elaboration of the laws governing Babylonian life called the Code of Hammurabi (Codex Hammurabi).2 This is regarded as an earliest example of a ‘constitution.’ It began and ended with addresses to the Gods …