National Hellenic Museum to Revive Ancient Greek Trial of Hippocrates

The National Hellenic Museum will host its 6th Ancient Greek re-Trial on February 20, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois.

Prominent judges, lawyers and respected jurors will unite their efforts to bring the trial of the great Greek physician Hippocrates back to life in a live courtroom debate.

The case will mix the ancient Athenian style of jurisprudence with the modern twist of dynamic presentations by the lawyers. Prosecutors will try to prove that Hippocrates was guilty of violating his oath when administering medical care to the dying King of the ancient Greek city of Thebes.

The two-and-a-half-hour event will take place at at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, at 205 East Randolph Drive in Chicago, starting at 6:30 pm local time.

According to the organizers, the Trial of Hippocrates will be ”a non-replicable evening of compelling and timely debate by reputable lawyers, with proceedings and decisions by notable judges and jurors.”

The guests will also have the chance to participate by exploring the arguments of each side and submitting their “guilty” or “not guilty” vote.

National Hellenic Museum President Dr. Laura Calamos said that she was “thrilled” to be able to present the sixth annual Trial of Hippocrates.

“This is one of the most engaging events we hold each year,” she noted, adding that ”this truly unique event brings Hellenism alive, including our love of learning, by prompting critical thinking and citizen involvement in decision-making”.

The National Hellenic Museum is an institution which portrays and celebrates Greek history and the Hellenic legacy through educational classes, exhibits and programs.

With a growing collection of over 20,000 artifacts, the Museum catalogs and highlights the contributions of Greeks and Greek-Americans to the American mosaic. The Museum aims to  inspire curiosity about visitors’ own family journeys through cultural expression, oral history and experiential education.

Located in Chicago’s Greektown, the NHM provides lifelong learning for the whole community, using artifacts and stories to spark inquiry and discussion about the broader issues in our lives and in society as a whole.