Navigazione e leggi nella Mesopotamia del II millennio a.C.

After a general overview on boats and water transport in southern Mesopotamia and along the Middle Euphrates, this article presents a comparative analysis on the Mesopotamian laws concerning navigation, with a focus on the Code of Hammurapi (composed c. 1750 BC). Ten provisions (§§234-240, 275-277) deal with several aspects of the navigation: the wage for the boatman in charge of boat caulking, the hires of boats and crew, responsibility for the sinking of a boat and in the event of a collision between two boats. Finally, the rental prices indicated in some Old Babylonian boat rental contracts are compared with those prescribed in the Code.