Four Women - Four Stories

Four ancient female rulers: Their life stories and their legacy

From April 25th, 2024 (until further notice) in the campus library of the FU Berlin, old building, level 3

The interactive traveling exhibition portrays four female rulers from different parts of the ancient world: Boudica, leader of a Celtic uprising against the Roman occupation of Britain in the 1st century AD, Hatshepsut, pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC, Tomyris, legendary queen of a Central Asian tribe in the 6th century BC, and Zenobia, ruler of the Palmyrene Empire in the 3rd century AD. In the context of current discourses on equal rights in research, this exhibition from the side of ancient studies aims to make an active contribution to the analysis of female historical figures and living environments and to stimulate both scientific and public interest.

The exhibition was conceived and created by bachelor students of various ancient studies subjects at the Free University of Berlin as part of the seminar Women in Power! Ancient Women in Military-Political Leadership Positions in winter semester 23/24 under the direction of Marina Weiss at the Institute for Near Eastern Archaeology.