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Though capital punishment (the death penalty) was abolished in the United Kingdom by 1965, public executions are still a prevalent form of punishment throughout the world today. Let's take a look at 10 of the most barbaric and painful execution methods from the past!
1. Scaphism
This was an ancient Persian technique (which originated around 5th century BC) typically used against their Greek enemies. Victims would be attached between two tree trunks or boats on top of the water with their limbs sticking out. They would then be stripped whilst their flesh (particularly their eyes, ears, mouths, genitals and anus) would be adorned with honey to attract insects, then force fed milk and honey resulting in intense diarrhoea. Overtime, insects would breed within their skin as the individuals excreted faeces over a two week period or else the insects would eat their flesh and gangrene would settle in. The individual would then subsequently die after their flesh had been rotting away for days from either starvation, dehydration and/or shock.
2. Mazzatello
This was a popular 18th century punishment in the Papal States whereby the executioner would smash the mallet down upon the head of the victim in front of a large crowd. This resulted in the individual being stunned thus giving the executioner the opportunity to slit their throat. It served as a form of punishment until 1870.
3. Sawing
A popular execution method in Europe and Asia was to invert the individual (hold them upside down), allowing their brain to receive a sufficient amount of blood to keep them conscious, then start sawing them in half lengthwise through the groin. Sometimes the individual would be sawn all the way and would die but often, they were only sawn up to the stomach and left to slowly die in agony for several days.
4. Flaying
This execution technique worked successfully as a strong deterrent against crimes due to the fact that it included skinning humans, typically beginning from the lower leg, the thighs or the behind. The individual would then die from shock or critical loss of blood. Once a person's skin was removed, it would be nailed in public places for people to be reminded of the painful consequences.
5. Blood Eagle
This popular 13th century Scandinavian tradition included breaking and restructuring an individual's rib-cage through the spine in order to resemble wings, their lungs would then be pulled through the opening and salt would be poured onto the wound. Typically, Vikings resorted to this technique if the individual had done something to make them honour-less, for instance killing their comrade.
6. The Breaking Wheel or Catherine Wheel
In this medieval punishment, an executioner would deliver blows with a club or iron cudgel to the body of an individual tied to a wheel being spun, this would lead to the breaking of limbs, suffocation and, eventually, death. Sometimes the individual was left alive and placed on a tall pole where birds would eat their flesh for days until they died. Occasionally, certain body parts would be woven into the wheel spokes and put on display for the public.
7. Bamboo
A popular execution method in Asia was to tie the individual down over bamboo shoots which would then slowly impale the victim and kill them. After WW2, rumours suggested that Japanese soldiers implemented this policy upon US and Allied prisoners of war.
8. Colombian Necktie
In Latin America an individual would face being horrifically executed as their throat would be slit and their tongue would be pulled through the opening, then their body would be left on display to warn the public.
9. Crucifixion
This was wildly practised by the Romans whereby an individual would be beaten, then forced to carry their own cross for miles, then they would be nailed to the cross through their wrists and ankles where they would be left to hang for weeks. Eventually they would die through suffocation as they could no longer hold themselves up to breathe, or they became too exhausted, or because of heart failure.
10. Hung, Drawn & Quartered
This technique was predominantly used in England. It involved hanging an individual until near death, slicing open their abdomen, removing their entrails, burning these, emasculating them, and finally, beheading them. Their body would be cut into four parts and placed in different locations across England for the public to see.
References:
Pegg, D. (2015). 25 of Humanity’s Most Brutal Methods of Execution, List 25
Gallonio, A. (1903). Tortures and Torments of the Christian Martyrs, London
Horse, L. (2014). Most Brutal Execution Methods #2: Scaphism
Ryan, E, (2017). This Ancient Form Of Torture Was The Worst, Most Complicated Way To Die
Perez, Z. (2018). The Ancient Persian Torture Method That Killed Victims With Milk And Honey
Megivern, J. (1007). The Death Penalty, Paulist Press
Abbott, G. (2007). What a Way to Go, Macmillan
Horse, L. (2014). Most Brutal Execution Methods #8 – Death By Sawing
Frank, R. (1984). Viking atrocity and Skaldic verse: The Rite of the Blood-Eagle, English Historical Review, Oxford Journals
Tracy, L. (2012). Torture and Brutality in Medieval Literature: Negotiations of National Identity, DS Brewer.
Smith, L. Details About The Blood Eagle, One Of History's Most Nightmarish Torture Methods