Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Legal Issues Torture Torture 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. 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. An example of this is when American slaves were beaten to death by their masters until they died. Another form of cooking people, popular in the Middle Ages 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. Popular during the Inquisition for heretics, witches, and uppity women. 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. 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. 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. Female effigies constructed of wood or iron with the inside hollowed out and filled with sharp iron spikes. The iron maiden would be opened up and the offender placed inside. The person would then be embraced by the iron maiden, being impaled by all the stakes. Wheels were used in a variety of ways. For example, a person could be somehow attached to the outer rim of a wheel and then either rolled over sharp spikes or off a hill. Most people immediately think of Jesus. Early crucifixions were carried out on trees. Used in a variety of ways. Popular at sea. Probably the most well-known variation is the witch's test. If the water rejects the woman and she floats, then she is guilty and executed by anth method. If the water accepts her and she drowns, then she was innocent. The person is positioned across the mouth of a can, then a shot is fired, blasting through the person's body. Just like in the Edgar Allen Poe story. A person lies on his or her back and a razor edged pendulum swings above them, slowly descending. Interestingly, this has not been a common method of execution. Socrates, who was forced to drink hemlock, is probably the most well-known victim of poison. The person lies under some sort of slab-like surface and then heavy objects such as stones are placed on top until the person is crushed to death. Catch-all term for a number of mechanical devices and practices which cause torture and death by stretching the person. There are many variations on the scenario in which the person is staked to the ground, smeared with something sweet like honey, and left out to eventually be eaten/stung to death/devoured by insects. The torso is slit open and the entrails are removed. Practiced by the Vikings. They would aim at non-vital parts of the body in order to prolong agony as long as possible. The person sat astride a V-shaped structure as if on a horse or donkey. Weights are increasingly attached to the person's feet pulled increasingly downward, until the person is split in two. The person is put away in a cell or cage and not fed anything. For example, in medieval France there were oubliettes (oublier is Frence for forget). Rocks are thrown at a person until he or she dies. Often members of the commuity will assist in the stoning. Still in practice in some Islamic and African countries (or at least until very recentlu). Some great fictionalized depictions of stonings include Zorba the Greek and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. Oftentimes a hybrid of the rack and hanging. Something is tightened around the person's neck until death results. The person is tied to a horse and dragged until death. Very convenient for everyone, since lots of people carried them. Used in both European and Oriental countries. Not used very often because of it's lack of drama. The person is thrown off a mountain or a high wall. comment: "Being thrown from a great hight" nowadays includes being thrown from a helicopter (unofficial method by certain military organizations) A favorite practice in Ancient Rome A iron container, mouth down, is placed on the victim's stomach. The container is lifted a bit and some mice or rats slipped inside. Then the container is heated up from the outside with a flame. As it begins to get hot, the mice want to escape, but there is no way out except through the mouth of the cauldron. So they begin to gnaw through the person's stomach and do so until the person dies. As in the Robert Frost poem "Birches", two trees would be pulled down so they would come together from opposite directions. One arm and leg would be tied to one tree, the other arm and leg to the other tree. Then, let go of the trees. A person is attached to four horses, one to each limb of the body. The horses are then giddied on to gallop in oppostie directions, in the aim that the person will become dismembered. Not a very effective method unless certain tendons in the limbs are pre-cut. Person is forced to drink water until death. Used in U.S. prisons in the nineteenth century. Water was poured on top of the prisoner's head and a large bucket of water was also placed under their chin to simulate the feeling of drowning. To see pictures, including an actual photograph, click here. This device was placed in prisoners' mouths and kept in place by locking the chain around their necks. Used in U.S. prisons in the nineteenth century. Giant oddly-shaped metal cages were placed on prisoners' heads and worn throughout the waking hours. Used in nineteenth century American prisons. To see a picture, click here. Prisoners were whipped with leather straps and cat-o'-nine tails until their flesh was raw and bleeding. Used in nineteenth century American prisons. Bibliography: Internet Word Count: 1214
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