Lecture: The Paradox of Witch Hunts with Maria Østerby Elleby

Witch hunts. Living people burned at the stake. It sounds evil and barbaric - but what if you genuinely believed the witch was the villain? That she stole infants to boil their fat, spied on people for Satan, and cursed them to death?

Witchcraft historian and PhD in history Maria Østerby Elleby from Rudersdal Museums examines the European and Danish witchcraft trials from the 1500s-1600s to investigate what monster people actually feared in the witch. Elleby is the author of 'Den satans tumult - Witch Hunts in the High Court', 'Witchcraft - the great book of magic' and 'Fire and Flames'.

The lecture is part of Birkerød Kulturnat and the Golden Days festival, running from 4-20 September with over 150 cultural-historical events for children and adults in the Copenhagen area. This year's theme is 'Monster'. The event is organized in collaboration with Rudersdal Museums.

Questions can be directed to Anne Hermansen at aher@rudersdal.dk