# Hittite laws

> Ancient legal code of the Hittites (ca. 1650–1100 BCE)

**Wikidata**: [Q1035946](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1035946)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hittite_laws)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hittite-laws

## Summary
Hittite laws are an ancient legal code from the Hittite civilization (ca. 1650–1100 BCE), serving as a formal written document that created law. They are classified as a statute, a subclass of written work, document, and rule, and are composed of legal norms. The laws were named after the Hittites and are described as an ancient legal code in multiple languages, including Hittite.

## Key Facts
- **Definition:** A formal written document that creates law, composed of legal norms and named after the Hittites.
- **Classification:** Instance of a statute, subclass of written work, document, and rule.
- **Time Period:** Active from approximately 1650–1100 BCE.
- **Language:** Written in Hittite.
- **Aliases:** Code of the Nesilim, Hethitsche Rechtssätze, Hethitische Rechtssammlung.
- **Country of Origin:** Hatti.
- **Wikipedia Coverage:** Available in 12 languages, including Armenian, Bulgarian, German, English, Persian, French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Korean, Russian, Serbian, and Turkish.
- **Wikidata Description:** "Ancient legal code of the Hittites (ca. 1650–1100 BCE)."
- **Encyclopedia References:** Cited in the *Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia*, *Great Russian Encyclopedia*, and *Encyclopedia of Korean Culture*.
- **Library Identifiers:** NLAI ID 175135, Freebase ID /m/06415j0 and /m/0cp7n3.
- **Structured Data Properties:** Includes P467, P17 (country), P1001 (applies to jurisdiction), P2567, P2568, P3148, P7588, P953, and P9681.

## FAQs
**What is the Hittite legal code?**
The Hittite legal code is an ancient legal document from the Hittite civilization, active between 1650 and 1100 BCE. It is classified as a statute, a formal written document that creates law, and is composed of legal norms. The code was named after the Hittites and is described as an ancient legal code in multiple languages.

**How is the Hittite legal code classified?**
The Hittite legal code is classified as a statute, a subclass of written work, document, and rule. It is an instance of a legal term or legal concept and is composed of legal norms. The code is also described as a formal written document that creates law.

**In which languages is the Hittite legal code documented?**
The Hittite legal code is documented in multiple languages, including Hittite, Armenian, Bulgarian, German, English, Persian, French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Korean, Russian, Serbian, and Turkish. It is available in Wikipedia articles in these languages.

**What are the aliases for the Hittite legal code?**
The Hittite legal code is also known by the aliases Code of the Nesilim, Hethitsche Rechtssätze, and Hethitische Rechtssammlung. These aliases refer to the same legal code but are used in different contexts or languages.

## Why It Matters
Hittite laws are significant as one of the earliest known legal codes, providing insight into the governance and social structure of the Hittite civilization. As a formal written document that creates law, the Hittite legal code serves as a manifestation of statutory law, influencing later legal systems. The code's classification as a statute ensures that it is recognized as a foundational legal concept, documented in major encyclopedias and indexed in global knowledge bases. Its status as a public domain document in jurisdictions like the United States and France ensures public accessibility to the laws governing society. The Hittite legal code matters because it provides a concrete, written evidence of legal rules that governed the Hittite civilization, serving as a definitive reference point for understanding ancient legal systems.

## Notable For
- **Ancient Legal Code:** One of the earliest known legal codes, providing insight into the governance and social structure of the Hittite civilization.
- **Multilingual Documentation:** Documented in multiple languages, including Hittite, Armenian, Bulgarian, German, English, Persian, French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Korean, Russian, Serbian, and Turkish.
- **Global Recognition:** Recognized as a core legal term, documented in major encyclopedias including the *Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia*, *Great Russian Encyclopedia*, and *Encyclopedia of Korean Culture*.
- **Public Domain Status:** Ensures public accessibility to the laws governing society, reinforcing the principles of open government and the rule of law.
- **Structured Data Properties:** Includes properties such as P467, P17 (country), P1001 (applies to jurisdiction), P2567, P2568, P3148, P7588, P953, and P9681, ensuring its integration into structured data systems.

## Body

### Definition and Scope
The Hittite laws are defined as an ancient legal code from the Hittite civilization, active from approximately 1650 to 1100 BCE. They serve as a formal written document that creates law, classified as a statute, a subclass of written work, document, and rule. The laws are composed of legal norms and are named after the Hittites. The code is described as an ancient legal code in multiple languages, including Hittite, and is available in Wikipedia articles in 12 languages.

### Types and Composition
The Hittite legal code acts as a formal written document that creates law, encompassing legal norms. It is classified as a statute, a subclass of written work, document, and rule. The code is composed of legal norms and is named after the Hittites. The Hittite laws are also known by the aliases Code of the Nesilim, Hethitsche Rechtssätze, and Hethitische Rechtssammlung. These aliases refer to the same legal code but are used in different contexts or languages.

### Copyright and Public Policy
The Hittite legal code holds a unique status in copyright law. In the United States, it is considered public domain based on the "edict of government doctrine." This policy dictates that official legal documents, including judicial opinions, administrative rulings, legislative enactments, and public ordinances, are not copyrightable. This applies regardless of whether the document is Federal, State, or local. A similar public domain status is noted for France. This ensures that the laws governing the public are freely owned by the public.

### Global Identifiers and Authority Control
The Hittite legal code is heavily indexed across global knowledge bases and library systems. It has a Wikidata ID and is described as a formal written document. The code holds the Library of Congress Authority ID `sh85127611` and the Bibliothèque nationale de France ID `120485802`. The National Library of Spain identifies it as `XX528757` ("Leyes"). The German systems categorize it as "Gesetz" (Law) or "gesetzliche Regelung" (statutory regulation). The code is also listed in the Art & Architecture Thesaurus and the PACTOLS thesaurus.

### Structured Data and Web Ontology
The Hittite legal code is modeled in semantic web technologies. It is an "equivalent class" to `https://schema.org/Legislation`. It has a Google Knowledge Graph ID `/g/120kn55l` and a BabelNet ID `00050588n`. The code is referenced in KBpedia with the ID "Statute" (referenced 2020-07-09). Properties associated with this entity type include P467, P17 (country), P1001 (applies to jurisdiction), P2567, P2568, P3148, P7588, P953, and P9681.

### Educational and Cultural Context
The Hittite legal code is a standard subject in educational and encyclopedic resources. It has a dedicated Vikidia article (eu:Lege, fr:Loi) and a Klexikon article (Gesetz). It is described by sources such as the *Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia* (Volume 8, page 383), the *Great Russian Encyclopedia* (portal ID zakon-23ecdb), and the *Encyclopedia of Korean Culture* (E0022648). It is also cataloged in museum contexts, with a Nomenclature for Museum Cataloging ID (`13378` for statute, `13377` for act) and a museum_digital_tag_id of `4605`. The main category for this topic is "Category:Act."

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013