I'm not a historical scholar, but I have read the code of Hammurabi (in translation, I'll admit, as my language skills doesn't extend to ancient akkadian...) to check the very issue of marriage laws in ancient societies.

Even allowing for mistranslation of the word marriage itself, there definitely was marriage in some form in ancient Babylonia. The law gives thorough regulations about how marriage was entered into, what kind of gift was appropriate to pay for the bride, under what circumstances the husband was allowed to choose concubines for himself and so forth.

It's far from marriage laws of today, but there's no doubt that it was marriage in most legal and traditional meanings of the word.

Since the jewish people - in the bible as well as with some external archaeological corroboration - traces its history back to Mesopotamia, it is higly unlikely that their legal tradition would differ so much as to not have a similar concept.

Kangan (imported) wrote: Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:15 am I'm all for the smooth look. But if you are truly male, why would you want to lose your penis? I don't know about you, but I prefer to pee standing up.

Where is the advantage in doing that?

Mac (imported) wrote: Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:21 pm Where is the advantage in doing that?

You don't have to squat.

Mac (imported) wrote: Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:21 pm Where is the advantage in doing that?

It's easier to write your name in the snow?

Mac (imported) wrote: Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:21 pm Where is the advantage in doing that?

You don't have to squat.

I don't consider that to be an advantage, but it is different for everybody.

Douglas Adams (imported) wrote: Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:23 am I recently watched a documentary about the history and origins of the Bible. In one part of the program, they discussed the various translations of the original works. One of the most interesting things was the assertion by an "expert" that "marriage" did not exist in biblical times. He insists that any phrases such as "He took unto himself a wife." would really have been written as "He took unto himself a concubine."

Did it have a Grain head or a Corn head?

...had to have some way to get that crop out of the field...