What is noted as the first written law regarding crime and punishment for rape?

The Code of Hammurabi is recognized as one of the oldest and most significant legal codes in history, dating back to around 1754 BC in ancient Babylon. This code includes specific provisions addressing various aspects of law, including crimes and their corresponding punishments. Notably, it contains laws specifically related to sexual offenses, including rape.

What distinguishes the Code of Hammurabi is its detailed approach to justice and its structured penalties for different crimes, establishing a legal framework that many later societies would emulate. The code’s stipulations regarding rape highlight not only the seriousness with which such offenses were regarded but also provide insight into the social values and legal practices of that era.

In contrast, while The Twelve Tables, Code of Ur-Nammu, and the Zoroastrian Code also contain legal prescriptions, they do not specifically address rape in the same explicit manner or provide the comprehensive legal context found in the Code of Hammurabi.