The hidden support of Hammurabi

Sure, Hammurabi was that great ruler, he was that “good shepherd” for his people, and was able to keep a stable hold over his vast land that included twenty-five cities. Good for him. But what we see in chapter 7 of Marc Van De Mieroop’s biography of Hammurabi are the stories of those who represented Hammurabi and played a crucial role in sustaining peace within the far corners of his empire. Just like many great leaders that have been seen throughout history, Hammurabi cannot receive the sole credit for the greatness of his kingship, because in his shadows are those that worked in the cities where Hammurabi could not be all the time.

The first person presented is Sin-iddinam, Hammurabi’s official representative for the conquered kingdom of Larsa, which Hammurabi changed into a province called Yamutbal. Sin-iddinam, as Mieroop states, “was responsible for a wide variety of palace affairs”(85). Apart from having constant communication with the king, Sin-iddinam was responsible for irrigation management (to make sure the canals and dams were running smoothly) as well as aiding the king in legal issues. He would be in charge of arresting and investigating criminal activities, essentially playing the role of the justice system of that time. But even Sin-iddinam was not able to do his job alone, and was supported by many administrators, one of which was called Shamash-hazir.

Shamash-hazir had close ties to the royal family, as he was a personal attendant to prince. With a promotion, Shamash-hazir was a “scribe of the fields” and a “registrar” (85). Shamash-hazir’s role was very important for the king’s administration because it was him that oversaw issues that involved land property rights and if rent was accounted for. (Especially if rent meant straight towards the palace.) It was a very hard system to manage, because ownership of fields seemed easily transferable but tough to maintain records of. Both Sin-iddinam and Shamash-hazir and countless others whose names have been lost throughout time have been key components that made up of the great kingdom of Hammurabi, and it is important to remember that it was not Hammurabi that did it completely by himself.