Here is the picture of Codex Hammurabi, currently at permanent display at the Lovre Museum in Paris. The code of Hammurabi (see a tranlation by L.W. King here) is one of the oldest written legal codes and it was authored by King Hammurabi of Babylon around 1780 BC. It was carved on an eight foot high stone monolith. This code is written in cuniform script and Akkadian language.
This code touches on both criminal and civil law, and also defines rules of commerce and trade. This code was basd on 'an eye for eye' concept. It has 282 different laws as well as preamble and an epilogue. Some of the interesting laws:
14. If any one break a hole into a house (break in to steal), he shall be put to death before that hole and be buried.
121. If any one store corn in another man's house he shall pay him storage at the rate of one gur for every five ka of corn per year.
196. If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. [ An eye for an eye ]
200. If a man knock out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out. [ A tooth for a tooth ]
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