New lecture series: Crime Scene Antiquity
11/10/2026Crime, criminality and law in ancient cultures: this is the subject of a lecture series at the University of Würzburg during the winter term. It explores both the legal systems of ancient cultures and individual criminal cases.
Murder, theft, fraud – crime has existed throughout history. Where norms are breached, questions arise about guilt and responsibility, about right and wrong, about punishment, retribution and justice. At the same time, crime has always held a particular fascination, as demonstrated by the enduring popularity of crime novels, television series and true-crime programmes. These stories are recounted, examined from psychological and legal perspectives, and invite us to search for motives and perpetrators.
Insights into ancient systems of norms and values
Ancient cultures, too, were familiar with such forms of criminality. Written and material sources record spectacular cases as well as everyday legal disputes, offering different perspectives on perpetrators, victims and the societies in which these offences were dealt with. It is important to bear in mind that the historical record is selective and gives voice only to certain perspectives. At the same time, these accounts offer valuable insights into how society dealt with breaches of the law, as well as into the systems of norms and values of ancient cultures.
The lecture series ‘Crime Scene: Antiquity’ explores the various aspects of crime, criminality and law from the perspectives of different disciplines within classical studies. It examines the legal systems of ancient cultures as well as individual criminal cases.
Time and venue
The lectures take place every Monday, starting at 6.15 pm. The venue is the Burkardushaus (Am Bruderhof 1). Online participation is also possible. Details on how to join the session can be found here.
The lectures
23 November 2026
Right and wrong in mythology and mythical elements in the legal system of Ancient Egypt
Prof. Dr Alexandra von Lieven (Münster)
30 November 2026
Murder, rape and fraud in ancient Mesopotamia. Criminal offences and the punishment of offenders in the late 3rd and early 2nd millennia BC
Prof. Dr Hans Neumann (Münster)
7 December 2026
The depths of human depravity: Roman escape tablets
Prof. Dr Markus Scholz (Dresden)
14 December 2026
By Sword, Cross, Noose and Wheel – Traces of Ancient and Late Medieval–Early Modern Legal Practice from an Archaeological and Anthropological Perspective
Dr Thomas Becker (Wiesbaden)
11 January 2027
“Give me the donkey!” Soldiers versus civilians in the Early and High Imperial periods
Prof. Dr Jorit Wintjes (Würzburg)
18 January 2027
The murder of the philosopher Hypatia between antiquity and modernity
Prof. Dr Dr Johanna Brankaer (Würzburg)
25 January 2027
‘The robbers killed him.’ – Murder cases in Latin epigraphy.
Prof. Dr Emmanuel Dupraz (Brussels)
1 February 2027
Power, murder and intrigue: The dark side of King David in the Books of Samuel
Prof. Dr Melanie Peetz (Frankfurt)
