Four Women – Four Stories

Four ancient women rulers: Their life stories and their legacy

on display from 25 April 2024 (until further notice) in the Campus Library of the FU Berlin, Old Building Level 3

The interactive travelling 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 BCE, Hatshepsut, pharaoh of the Egyptian empire in the middle of the 2nd century BCE, Tomyris, legendary queen of a Central Asian tribe in the 6th century BCE and Zenobia, ruler of the Palmyrene Empire in the 3rd century CE. In the context of current discourses on equal rights in research, this exhibition aims to make an active contribution to the study of female historical figures and lifeworlds on the part of Classical Studies and to stimulate both academic and public interest.

The exhibition was organised by female 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 the winter semester 23/24 under the direction of Marina Weiss at the Institute of Near Eastern Archaeology.