Melbourne University has purchased a 500-year-old book considered one of the most controversial in history, despite researchers conceding it is grossly offensive and triggered mass killings.
The Hammer of Witches, published in 1494, has been acquired for $152,000 and is now kept behind tight security in the university’s rare book collection.
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“To be so close to history and to touch history,” said Susan Millard, Melbourne University Curator of Rare Books. “It’s horrifying really, the content of this book.”
Written in Latin by German author Heinrich Kramer, the book claimed evil witches were everywhere because “women are defective in all the powers of both body and soul”.
“I know that sounds ridiculous now, but I think we still have a lot of ideas circulating that women are somehow lesser, and so remembering what this can lead to is really important,” said Charlotte Millar, senior history lecturer.
Melbourne University has purchased the book. Credit: 7NEWSIt was published in 1494. Credit: 7NEWS
The book advocates torture to get confessions, show trials and executions. It became Europe’s second highest seller behind the Bible for a century.
“And it then goes on to lead directly and indirectly to the deaths of up to 50,000 people,” Millar said.
Arts student Saskia Scheenhouwer had studied the book online, but reading the real version was confronting.
“I think it was much more potent. It’s really fascinating to understand why and what impact that had on a society,” she said.
It advocates for torture to get confessions. Credit: 7NEWSResearchers say some things said in the book are reflected in today’s society. Credit: 7NEWS
Millar said students expect some misogyny in historical texts, but are shocked by the level in this book.
“They often recognise things that are being said in the corner of the internet today, and I think they want to see the history of those ideas,” she said.
The university hopes to use the horrendous history to help quell today’s rapid spread of online disinformation.
“I think anything we can do to better understand the past and where dangerous ideas can lead,” Millar said.
Millard added: “It’s important not to gloss over history and to bring it to the fore and then look at it in the context of today’s world.”
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