The Most Gruesome Execution Methods From The Darkest Chapters Of Our History

By Johny in Geeks and Gaming On 9th December 2015
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#1 Scaphism: This Persian method, also known as ‘the boats’, is probably one of the grossest ways to end someone’s life. The victims were securely tied between two canoes so their torso was in an enclosed wooden box. Then they were fed milk and honey, causing severe diarrhoea.Soon, the victim would be stuck in the box with excrement and thousands of insects. The insects would start feeding on the body and eventually, the victim would die from dehydration or infection.

#2 Execution by elephant: Sure, elephants are cute. But only if they’re not used as executioners. In Southern and Southeastern Asia, however, they were. Depending on the severity of the crime, the trained elephant would either crush the victim’s head straight away or all the limbs first.

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#3 Walking the plank: Although it is an entertaining part of pirate movies, in reality, it wasn’t funny at all. With their hands tied on their back, the victims were forced to jump into the ocean and drown.

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#4 Bestiarii: In ancient Rome, this form of execution was used as public entertainment. Prisoners and criminals would be killed by lions, tigers and bears in the middle of the arena. Without any weapons to defend themselves, the prisoners didn’t stand a chance.

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#5 Upright jerker: In 19th century America, this was a less popular execution device. The rope fastened around the victim’s neck would be pulled upwards by a mechanical system – instantly breaking the neck. It was supposed to replace the more common method of hanging but somehow it never did. Maybe it wasn’t entertaining enough?

#6 Death by sawing: This method was used by several cultures around the world. Mostly, the victims would be hung upside down, so that the sawing would start with the genitals. This way, the victim would stay alive for longer.

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#7 Flaying alive: Horrendously, humans never run out of ideas how to hurt their own kind. During this execution method, the victim’s skin would be removed – causing a very slow and painful death.

#8 Blood eagle: This ritualistic execution method is mainly described in Nordic poetry. Nonetheless, some historians believe that it actually did occur. During this extremely painful procedure, the victim’s back would be cut open. The ribs would be broken so that the lungs could get pulled out through the wound. The bloody picture was supposed to resemble an eagle.

#9 The Gridiron: Basically causing the victims to slowly get roasted on an iron bed, this method was even worse than burning at the stake.

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#10 Crushing: This pretty self-explanatory method was used both as torture and execution procedure.

#11 Burning at the stake: Burning at the stake was an extremely widespread execution method in medieval times.

#12 Bamboo torture: Used in parts of Asia as well as, reportedly, by Japanese soldiers in WWII, bamboo torture would cause a very slow and painful death. The victim was laid down on top of a newly grown patch of bamboo. Over the next weeks, the plants would grow through the victim’s body – eventually causing death.

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#13 Burying alive: This gruesome method has been used by cultures all around the globe and is a reoccurring theme in movies these days.

#14 Lingchi: This ‘death by a thousand cuts’ was a method used in China until 1905. Methodically, the victims would be sliced to pieces.

#15 Crucifixion: Primarily employed by Romans, this execution method was very common. Slow death would eventually occur through asphyxiation or the loss of blood.

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#16 The brazen bull: Yet another execution method designed to entertain the crowds. While the victim would be locked up inside the bull, a fire was lit underneath the statue. Sadistically, the bull was designed in a way to acoustically transform the victim’s screams into beastly roars.