The ancient text considered the foundation of legal principles in many countries is the Code of Hammurabi. This Babylonian law code, dating back to around 1754 BCE, consists of a collection of laws inscribed on a stone stele. It is famous for establishing the principle of lex talionis, or the law of retaliation, which articulated the idea that punishments should fit the crime. The Code influenced subsequent legal systems and remains a significant historical document in understanding the development of justice and law.