<P> The principle is found in Babylonian Law . If it is surmised that in societies not bound by the rule of law , if a person was hurt , then the injured person ( or their relative ) would take vengeful retribution on the person who caused the injury . The retribution might be worse than the crime , perhaps even death . Babylonian law put a limit on such actions , restricting the retribution to be no worse than the crime , as long as victim and offender occupied the same status in society . As with blasphemy or lèse - majesté ( crimes against a god or a monarch ) , crimes against one 's social betters were punished more severely . </P>
<P> The principle is found in Babylonian Law . If it is surmised that in societies not bound by the rule of law , if a person was hurt , then the injured person ( or their relative ) would take vengeful retribution on the person who caused the injury . The retribution might be worse than the crime , perhaps even death . Babylonian law put a limit on such actions , restricting the retribution to be no worse than the crime , as long as victim and offender occupied the same status in society . As with blasphemy or lèse - majesté ( crimes against a god or a monarch ) , crimes against one 's social betters were punished more severely . </P>
where does an eye for an eye come from
where does an eye for an eye come from
Babylonian Law
Babylonian Law