Telling lecture – When the animals were judged

When the animals were judged! A narrative lecture about trials against animals in the period 1250-1850 and the logic behind the judgments by Ragnhild Clod Pedersen.

Rats, mice and marsh pigs terrorized the fields near the village of Als and munched away at the crops. People were distraught. Now the animals had been summoned to court. In eight days, i.e. on August 19, 1711, they had to appear at the town assembly, hear the accusation and defend themselves. Then the verdict would be given.

The inspiration came from Central Europe, where for hundreds of years trials were regularly held against animals. Pigs were accused of murder and hanged on gallows. Skadedyr got a defense lawyer and was threatened with excommunication - i.e. being thrown out of the church.

In Denmark, you could summon the animals by reading the summons out loud from the farms or putting small papers with it down the rat holes.

In this narrative lecture, we delve into what the logic behind the trials was. In order to understand them, one must familiarize oneself with the legal logic, theological worldview and mental relationship with animals of another time.

Ragnhild Clod Pedersen is a trained historian and acts as a storyteller. In the lecture, she combines her historical knowledge with storytelling.

It is necessary to buy a ticket in advance.
Coffee/tea and cake are included in the ticket price of DKK 90.