| Contents |
Introduction. Serial killers in the ancient world -- Identifying serial killers then and now -- Methods to the madness -- What motivates serial killers across the ages -- Murderous Greek roof-tiles and other legal problems -- Murder and the advantages of roman citizenship -- The popularity of serial poisoning -- Heracles and the headhunters -- Theseus and the highway killers -- How boxing moved from serial murder to Olympic sport -- Serial murders in local legends -- Serial slaying of suitors and spouses -- Witches and other child-murderers -- Serial murder then and now, there and here |
| Abstract |
"Although serial killers are often thought to be a recent phenomenon, with accounts frequently beginning with Jack the Ripper, Felton aims to demonstrate that serial killers were nearly as common in the ancient world as they are in the modern one, using evidence from Greek and Roman history and folklore. She argues that the evidence from classical antiquity very strongly suggests that the existence of serial killers was recognized thousands of years ago and that, despite popular belief, serial murders are certainly not just a relatively recent development. Mythological monsters as well as human criminals described by ancient authors fit various serial killer profiles down to very specific details. This book investigates these stories and more to shed light on the centuries-old phenomenon of serial killing. Felton draws frequent comparisons to modern-day killers like Jeffrey Dahmer or John Wayne Gacy and their methods, while also bringing in other instances from across the centuries as further examples"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 211-217) and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2020056879 |
| ISBN | 9781477303795 (cloth) |
| ISBN | 9781477323571 (paperback) |
| ISBN | (ebook other) |
| ISBN | (ebook) |
