Historical Methods of Torture and Execution Europe is the place to visit if this is what you're into. Many cities and towns have medieval torture museums. We liked one that we visited at Mont St. Michel in France. For those of you who can't afford to travel, check out the movie version of Edgar Allen Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum starring Lance Henrickson. Don't know how historically accurate it is, but it's great atmospherically. Beheading by Axe or Sword An executioner, usually hooded, chops off the person's head. Quite trendy in England in the 1500-1600's. The axe used for the last beheading in 1747 can be viewed at the Tower of London. Beating to Death An example of this is when American slaves were beaten to death by their masters until they died. Boiling Alive Another form of cooking people, popular in the Middle Ages Buried Alive Widely used around the world throughout the ages. For example, in India they buried women in sand up to their necks, then left them, head emerged only, to bake in the sun. Burned at the Stake Popular during the Inquisition for heretics, witches, and uppity women. Eaten by Animals The early Christians were thrown to the lions. Also, we don't know whether it's based in reality or not, but check out the scene in the movie The Vikings where they throw Ragnar into the wolf pit. Skinning/Flaying The skin is removed in strips. Drawn and Quartered The person is carved into pieces while alive. It was often combined with hanging and used for extremely serious crimes such as high treason, where mere hanging alone was not enough. Impaling Stakes are driven through the person's body in such a way that vital organs needed for survival are not pierced. Iron Chair/ Iron BedThese pieces of iron furniture were placed over a stoked fire and occupants were roasted to death. Iron Maiden Female effigies constructed of wood or iron with the inside hollowed out and filled with sharp iron spikes. The iron maiden would be ...
