[25] See Fig. 42; and cf. p. 179, n. 2.
[26] See Plate XV., opposite p. 184.
[27] Cf. "Letters," III., p. 16 f.
[28] See above, p. 127 f.
[29] See below, p. 215 f.
[30] See above, pp. 82 ff.
[31] The fact that, so far as they have yet been examined, the lines of the streets appear to have altered little during the time from the First Dynasty to the Neo-Babylonian and Persian periods, is at least presumptive evidence in favour of assigning the main lines of the street-plan on the Merkes Mound to the age of Hammurabi and his descendants; see above, [p. 85] f.
[32] In the case of proved adultery, drowning was the penalty for the guilty parties; but the husband could save his wife, if he wished to do so, by appeal to the king. If the charge was brought by the husband himself, a woman could clear herself by swearing to her own innocence; but, if others brought the charge, she had to submit to the ordeal by water. She plunged into the Euphrates, and should she be drowned, it was regarded as proof of guilt; but if she got safely to the bank her innocence was established. It was believed that the Sacred River would see that justice was done; see §§ 131 f. of the Code, and cp. § 2.
[33] The wife could also divorce her husband, if she could prove that her past life had been seemly; she then took her marriage-portion and returned to her father's house. For laws as to breach of promise (based on the payment of the bride-price), see §§ 159-101 of the Code.
[34] There was an important guild of votaries attached to E-babbar, the temple of the Sun-god at Sippar, a second at Ur, and another at E-sagila, the great temple of Marduk at Babylon, where they had special privileges.