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Primary sourceLetterc. 1792-1750 BCE

Letter from Hammurabi to Sîn-iddinam

Hammurabi · c. 1792-1750 BCE

A clay tablet letter from Hammurabi to his governor of Larsa, ordering boatmen to be assembled and sent to Babylon.

A letter written by Hammurabi himself, showing his direct involvement in governing conquered territory.

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Photograph of a clay cuneiform tablet, pale beige and roughly rectangular with a chipped upper-left corner, covered in wedge-shaped impressed signs in horizontal lines. It rests on a black stand against a dark background.
Letter from Hammurabi to Sîn-iddinam, governor of Larsa, c. 1792-1750 BCE. AO 5420.

About this source

What it is

This cuneiform clay tablet is a letter sent by Hammurabi, king of Babylon, to Sîn-iddinam, the governor he placed over the conquered city of Larsa. In it, he asks for boatmen to be gathered and sent to Babylon.

Why it matters

The letter shows Hammurabi personally managing practical administration after conquering southern Mesopotamia, not just issuing grand laws. It reveals the everyday business of running a growing kingdom, including labour, transport and communication between the king and his officials such as Sîn-iddinam.

Look closer

  • What does this letter suggest about how closely Hammurabi supervised his officials?
  • Why might a king need boatmen urgently, and what does that tell you about Babylon's economy?
  • What is missing from a short administrative letter like this compared to a law code?

This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Hammurabi on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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