Topography of the justice system: places, objects, artefacts and symbols of urban justice in the early modern-era Kingdom of Hungary (TOPOGRAFIA SÚDNICTVA: LOKALITY, OBJEKTY, ARTEFAKTY A SYMBOLY MESTSKEJ SPRAVODLIVOSTI V RANONOVOVEKOM UHORSKU)

Abstract

This paper is an introduction to the research project on „Topography of the justice system“ which seeks to visualize the workings of the urban justice system in the early modern era in the Kingdom of Hungary. The authors examines places, objects, artefacts, symbols and rituals tied to the administration of justice in the cities, which include 1) city halls with their outer and inner decoration which represents the power and the autonomy of the city; 2) pillories, stocks and prangers; 3) prisons and torture chambers; and 4) executions sites. Judicial rituals, the omnipresent visual symbolism as the primary means of public communication and the selection of specific motifs to represent justice, all of this reflect the contemporary values and ideals as well as ideas on appropriate punishment.

Keywords

• JUSTICE SYSTEM
• TOPOGRAPHY
• TOWN HALL
• PILLORY
• Execution site