Editing Code of Hammurabi (section)

===Prologue===
The prologue and epilogue together occupy one-fifth of the text. Out of around 4,130 lines, the prologue occupies 300 lines and the epilogue occupies 500.{{sfnp|Roth|1995b|pp=15–16}} They are in [[ring composition]] around the laws, though there is no visual break distinguishing them from the laws.{{sfnp|Roth|1995b|p=16}} Both are written in poetic style,{{sfnp|Huehnergard|2011|p=160}} and, as William W. Davies wrote, "contain much{{nbsp}}... which sounds very like braggadocio".{{sfnp|Davies|1905|p=15}}

The 300-line prologue begins with an [[etiology]] of Hammurabi's royal authority (1–49). [[Anu]]m, the Babylonian [[sky god]] and [[king of the gods]], granted rulership over humanity to [[Marduk]]. Marduk chose the centre of his earthly power to be Babylon, which in the real world worshipped him as its [[tutelary god]]. Marduk established the office of kingship within Babylon. Finally, Anum, along with the Babylonian [[wind god]] [[Enlil]], chose Hammurabi to be Babylon's king. Hammurabi was to rule "to prevent the strong from oppressing the weak" (37–39: {{lang|akk|dannum enšam ana lā ḫabālim}}). He was to rise like Shamash over the Mesopotamians (the {{lang|akk|ṣalmāt qaqqadim}}, literally the "black-headed people") and illuminate the land (40–44).{{sfnp|Roth|1995a|pp=76–77}}<ref group="note" name="CDLI and Roth">{{harvtxt|CDLI|2019}}'s line numbering, {{harvtxt|Roth|1995a}}'s translation. The line numbers may seem low, since the CDLI edition does not include sections not found on the Louvre stele.</ref>

Hammurabi then lists his achievements and virtues (50–291). These are expressed in noun form, in the Akkadian first person singular nominal sentence construction "[noun]{{nbsp}}... {{lang|akk|anāku}}" ("I am [noun]").{{sfnp|Huehnergard|2011|pp=11–12}} The first nominal sentence (50–53) is short: "I am Hammurabi, the shepherd, selected by the god Enlil" ({{lang|akk|ḫammurabi rē'ûm nibīt enlil anāku}}). Then Hammurabi continues for over 200 lines in a single nominal sentence with the {{lang|akk|anāku}} delayed to the very end (291).{{sfnp|Roth|1995a|pp=77–80}}<ref group="note" name="CDLI and Roth" />

Hammurabi repeatedly calls himself {{lang|akk|na'dum}}, "pious" (lines 61, 149, 241, and 272). The metaphor of Hammurabi as his people's shepherd also recurs. It was a common metaphor for [[ancient Near East]]ern kings, but is perhaps justified by Hammurabi's interest in his subjects' affairs.{{sfnp|Van De Mieroop|2005|p=82}} His affinities with many different gods are stressed throughout. He is portrayed as dutiful in restoring and maintaining temples and peerless on the battlefield. The list of his accomplishments has helped establish that the text was written late in Hammurabi's reign. After the list, Hammurabi explains that he fulfilled Marduk's request to establish "truth and justice" ({{lang|akk|kittam u mīšaram}}) for the people (292–302), although the prologue never directly references the laws.{{sfnp|Driver|Miles|1952|pp=40–41}} The prologue ends "at that time:" (303: {{lang|akk|inūmišu}}) and the laws begin.{{sfnp|Roth|1995a|pp=80–81}}<ref group="note" name="CDLI and Roth" />