Calendar of Events

Off with their heads

Date
Kind of Event
Lecture
Virtual Event
Organised by
Country
Austria

An enjoyable archaeological tour through the history of the death penalty in Tyrol

The year is 1689, Innsbruck. There is a dense crowd on the "Köpflplatz": the masses are surging and rumbling in anticipation of the spectacle. No one wants to miss the show; like at a rock concert, the audience flows in towards the wooden platform. The guardsmen have a hard time protecting the stage; on it a solitary figure. The headsman towers over the crowd, his introverted look radiating calm in the storm of spectators. His attention is focused entirely on his tool. The executioner runs a scrap of paper over the executioner's sword. The blade is razor sharp, as it should be. At this moment, the outsider receives undivided attention.

The focus of this archaeological-historical talk is the hangman and his most important tool, the executioner's sword. This figure, still fascinating today, was exclusively responsible for the execution of death sentences in the historical county of Tyrol. We will get to know him not only as an executor, but also as a historical figure on the periphery of the society.

Tune in on 27 May at 7pm at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89946675563?pwd=MVlDTU8vYTV5K1lVM3g2dGk3cjh1UT09&fbclid=IwAR1OOidVLTQ8pUp1AjHRDWKHHQ-EEEAJCiMYOVOQtn4N2-VnPmYL_ueiHKQ#success