Proclamation: "We the most GLORIOUS people of babylon are TRULY the most cultured and gifted among all other people. our slaves fill their hearts with joy when they work for babylon and our awelu lead use most RIGHTEOUSly in the ways of our forefathers "
Structure of Babylonian Society
Babylonian Society was divided into three groups;
Awelu The freeman generally composed of the most wealthy and powerful of Babylon and included the king, nobles and individual who worked in public offices. The freemen carried a lot of responsibilities towards the state and its people but also had the most freedom and rights of any other group and was considered special under the law. Mushkenu The mushkenu were the serfs or those who worked the land as farmers or craftsmen, they had less freedom rights then the awelu but they were viewed as special dependents of either the temple or the place and as were given protection. Wardu The last group was the Wardu or the slave caste, this group general comprised of captures taken in war but Babylonian citizens could also become slaves as punishment for breaking a law or owning a debt. Slaves were the property of their master, like any other chattel. They could be branded and flogged, and they were severely punished if they attempted to escape. Slavery While slaves could be beaten or killed they did have enjoy certain rights and generally lived at a higher standard then slaves in other ancient societies. For example a slave could marry or undertake business or even pay for their freedom if they were a Babylon citizen. |
Resource: Class Rights and Privileges
Right/Privilege |
Awelu |
Mushkenu |
Wardu |
Able to own Property |
The Awelu were able to hold large amounts of property due to their wealth |
The Mushkenu had the right to own property, but were generally poor and as such were less likely to own the land they worked on |
The Wardu were slaves and could not own any land as they were viewed as property. |
Able to hold public offices (eg Mayor) |
The Awelu class comprised mostly of public officials as they had the wealth and status required to undertake such a position. |
The Mushkenu could not take public office, however if one was able to increase their standing they could climb into the Awelu Class |
The Wardu could not take public offices. |
Engage in Business and borrow Money |
Yes, the awelu could also gain more favorable terms for the loan |
Yes |
Yes |
Able to Marry |
The awelu were expected to marry someone who was part of the Awelu class |
The mushkenu could marry anyone they chose and could even marry a Wardu |
The Wardu were able to marry and could after a time pay off their debt and move their families out of slavery. |
Reimbursement for an injury |
lex talionis (an eye for an eye) |
The payment of a mina (which equates to around .45kg of silver) |
Half of the slaves market value |
Women and the Family
Women in Babylon were expected to marry and produce offspring, although sources do indicated that women could undertake employment and even own their businesses. Babylonian society generally saw the father as the head of the household but extracts from the code of Hammurabi help highlight the idea of marriage as a contract between the man and women. Babylonian society in generally view women sexuality as a means for reproduction and legitimacy , because of this adultery was seen as a serious crime. Punishment was set out by the code and was still followed during the Neo Babylonian Period:
Example law:
143. If a wife has committed adultery, then she shall be executed by being thrown into the water.
Herodotus and Babylon
Herodotus and Babylonian Women The Greek historian Herodotus also provides us with another account on Babylonian women. His account paints a different picture on a women's role in society and Babylonian views on women in general. Herodotus: Babylonian Marriage I:196. "Such is the equipment of their bodies: and the customs which are established among them are as follows, the wisest in our opinion being this, which I am informed that the Enetoi in Illyria also have. In every village once in each year it was done as follows: When the maidens grew to the age for marriage, they gathered these all together and brought them in a body to one place, and round them stood a company of men: and the crier caused each one severally to stand up, and proceeded to sell them, first the most comely of all, and afterwards, when she had been sold and had fetched a large sum of money, he would put up another who was the most comely after her: and they were sold for marriage. Now all the wealthy men of the Babylonians who were ready to marry vied with one another in bidding for the most beautiful maidens; those however of the common sort who were ready to marry did not require a fine form, but they would accept money together with less comely maidens. For when the crier had made an end of selling the most comely of the maidens, then he would cause to stand up that one who was least shapely, or any one of them who might be crippled in any way, and he would make proclamation of her, asking who was willing for least gold to have her in marriage, until she was assigned to him who was willing to accept least: and the gold would be got from the sale of the comely maidens, and so those of beautiful form provided dowries for those which were unshapely or crippled; but to give in marriage one's own daughter to whomsoever each man would, was not allowed, nor to carry off the maiden after buying her without a surety; for it was necessary for the man to provide sureties that he would marry her, before he took her away; and if they did not agree well together, the law was laid down that he should pay back the money. It was allowed also for any one who wished it to come from another village and buy. This then was their most honorable custom; it does not however still exist at the present time, but they have found out of late another way, in order that the men may not ill-treat them or take them to another city: for since the time when being conquered they were oppressed and ruined, each one of the common people when he is in want of livelihood prostitutes his female children". (Herodotus, The Histories, 2003, 1:196) |
Herodotus: cultic prostitution
I:199. "Now the most shameful of the customs of the Babylonians is as follows: Every woman of the country must sit down in the precincts of Aphrodite once in her life and have commerce with a man who is a stranger: and many women who do not deign to mingle with the rest, because they are made arrogant by wealth, drive to the temple with pairs of horses in covered carriages, and so take their place, and a large number of attendants follow after them; but the greater number do thus,--in the sacred enclosure of Aphrodite sit great numbers of women with a wreath of cord about their heads; some come and others go; and there are passages in straight lines going between the women in every direction, through which the strangers pass by and make their choice. Here when a woman takes her seat she does not depart again to her house until one of the strangers has thrown a silver coin into her lap and has had commerce with her outside the temple, and after throwing it he must say these words only: "I demand thee in the name of the goddess Mylitta": now Mylitta is the name given by the Assyrians to Aphrodite: and the silver coin may be of any value; whatever it is she will not refuse it, for that is not lawful for her, seeing that this coin is made sacred by the act: and she follows the man who has first thrown and does not reject any: and after that she departs to her house, having acquitted herself of her duty to the goddess, nor will you be able thenceforth to give any gift so great as to win her. So then as many as have attained to beauty and stature are speedily released, but those of them who are unshapely remain there much time, not being able to fulfil the law; for some of them remain even as much as three or four years: and in some parts of Cyprus too there is a custom similar to this". (Herodouts, the Histories, 2003, 1:199) |
Resources for Babylonian Society
1. Students examine the tablets which contain recipes for Babylonian Cuisine and if the resources are available try and cook a recipe themselves
2. Students conduct a source analysis on Herodotus account of Babylonian and its society.
References:
Ancient History Encyclopedia: Herodotus on Babylon. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015.http://www.ancient.eu/article/84/
Hammurabi's Code: The Avalon Project : Code of Hammurabi. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015, from http://avalon.law.yale.edu/ancient/hamframe.asp.
Ancient Babylonian Cuisine: Yale Babylonian Tablets Archives - The Silk Road Gourmet. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015, from http://www.silkroadgourmet.com/tag/yale-babylonian-tablets/