The Code of Laws
Hammurabi claimed that his code of laws was authored by Marduk, the most important Babylonian god. He also claimed that Marduk required Hammurabi to rule in his name. The divine authority vested in Hammurabi by Marduk gave him extensive religious and political authority over the ancient Babylonians. The Code of Hammurabi contained 282 laws and was written in Akkadian, the daily language used by the people of Babylon.