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adultery
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Code of Hammurabi
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Code of Hammurabi
Code of Hammurabi Diorite stela inscribed with the Code of Hammurabi, 18th century bce.

adultery

sexual behavior
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Also known as: extramarital coitus, marital infidelity
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adultery, sexual relations between a married person and someone other than the spouse. Written or customary prohibitions or taboos against adultery constitute part of the marriage code of virtually every society. Indeed, adultery seems to be as universal and, in some instances, as common as marriage. The Code of Hammurabi (18th century bc) in Babylonia provided a punishment of death by drowning for adultery. In ancient Greece and in Roman law, an offending female spouse could be killed, but men were not severely punished. The Jewish, Islamic, and Christian traditions are all unequivocal in their condemnation of adultery. The culpability ...(100 of 521 words)

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