From the highway killers confronted by the Greek hero Theseus, such as Procrustes, who tortured and mutilated their victims to the Sphinx, or “strangler,” from the story of Oedipus.. Or child-killing demons and witches and historical figures such as Locusta of Gaul, the most notorious poisoner in the early Roman Empire....Who are the serial killers of the ancient world? 

From the highway killers confronted by the Greek hero Theseus, such as Procrustes, who tortured and mutilated their victims to the Sphinx, or “strangler,” from the story of Oedipus.. Or child-killing demons and witches and historical figures such as Locusta of Gaul, the most notorious poisoner in the early Roman Empire....Who are the serial killers of the ancient world?

Usually thought to be a more modern phenomenon, Dr. Debbie Felton makes the case that you can find these notorious murderers throughout ancient history and mythology alike.

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Debbie Felton is the Professor of Classics and Undergraduate Program Director at UMass-Amherst. She is the author and editor of many books which focus on antiquity, folktales, the supernatural and the monstrous, but today we discuss her latest book, Monsters and Monarchs: Serial Killers in Classical Myth and History.

Classical Wisdom Members can listen to the entire podcast with Professor Felton on Classical Wisdom.com.

You can purchase Debbie’s book, Monsters and Monarchs: Serial Killers in Classical Myth and History on amazon.com or https://utpress.utexas.edu/