A compelling lecture on the witch hunts in Denmark, presented by Maria Østerby Elleby, Ph.D. in history and communication officer at Rudersdal Museums. Through dramatic narratives, she explores how over a thousand people – predominantly women – in the 17th century were convicted and executed for alleged witchcraft. Elleby delves into what fueled this massive fear and how ordinary people were turned into witches during an era when witch hunts ravaged all of Europe.
The lecture draws from her latest book Fire and Flames: Witch Hunts in Denmark, a popular science account based on extensive research into witchcraft trials. A crucial insight into one of history's darkest chapters, illuminating the mechanisms behind mass persecution and society's complicity.
The event is part of Copenhagen Public Libraries' "Wild About Science" festival (October–November), where science is presented to adults in diverse formats across the city's libraries.
