[Translated by GR Driver and JC Miles, The Babylonian Laws, Oxford, 1952-55. Translation amended by me.]
 

CODE OF HAMMURABI ca. 1792 - 1750 BCE

§ 178 If (there is) a high-priestess, a priestess, or a male-daughter whose father has bestowed a dowry on her and has written a tablet for her (but) has not granted her written authority in the tablet which he has written for her to give (the charge of) her estate to whom she pleases and has not conceded her full discretion, (then,) after the father goes to his fate, her brothers shall take her field and her plantation (into their charge) and give her food, oil, and clothing according to the capacity of her share and satisfy her. If her brothers do not give her food, oil, and clothing according to the capacity of her share and do not satisfy her, she may give her field and her plantation (in)to (the charge of) any cultivator who pleases her and her cultivator shall maintain her; she shall enjoy the field (and) the plantation (and) anything which her father gave her so long as she lives. She shall not sell (them and) she shall not use them to settle (the claims of) any other (person). Her inheritance belongs to her brothers.

§ 179 If the father of the high-priestess, the priestess, or the male-daughter has bestowed a dowry on her, has written a sealed tablet for her and has granted her written authority in the tablet which he has written for her to give (the charge of) her estate to whom she pleases and concedes her full discretion, after the father goes to (his) fate she may give (the charge of) her estate to whom she pleases; her brothers shall not claim (it from) her.

§ 180 If a father has not bestowed a dowry on his daughter (who is) a priestess in a cloister or a male-daughter, after the father goes to (his) fate, she shall at the division take a share like (that of) one heir out of the property of the paternal estate and shall have the usufruct (of it) so long as she lives. Her estate belongs to her brothers.

§ 183 If a father has bestowed a dowry on his daughter (who is) a lay-sister, has given her to an husband (and) has written a sealed tablet for her, after the father goes to (his) fate, she shall at the division not take (anything) out of the property of the paternal estate.

§ 184 If the man has not bestowed a dowry on his daughter (who is) a lay-sister (and) has not given her to a husband, after the father goes to (his) fate, her brothers shall bestow a dowry on her according to the capacity of the paternal estate and shall give her to a husband.

§ 185 If a man has taken an infant in adoption (to be called) by his name and brings him up, that adopted child shall not be (re)claimed.

§ 186 If the man has taken the infant in adoption (and), when he has taken it, it persists in searching for its father and its mother, that adopted child shall return to its father's house.

§ 187 The son of a palace eunuch or the son of a male-daughter shall not be (re)claimed.

§ 192 If the son of a palace eunuch or the son of a male-daughter states to the father who has brought him up or the mother who has brought him up 'Thou art not my father' (or) 'Thou art not my mother', they shall cut out his tongue.

§ 193 If the son of a palace eunuch or the son of a male-daughter has discovered the house of his (natural) father and hated the father who has brought him up or the mother who has brought him up and (goes) to his (natural) father's house, they shall pluck out his eye.