Read Online Barbaric Methods of Ancient Execution by Shaun Porter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shaun Porter
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simply wasn’t worth it.
Before being crucified, the condemned were forced to transport the cross from the prison to the site of the execution. The huge wooden beams would be incredibly heavy, and the victim would suffer a great deal just transporting it.
The victim would then be either tied, or nailed through the palm or wrists to the cross, dependent on the severity of their crime. It was also considered to be a form of public humiliation, with only a small loin cloth being worn to cover the person’s genitals, and the crosses being elevated high so that everyone could see.
Then, they would simply be left up there, until death arrived. This could take many hours, or even several days in some circumstances. The most common cause of death was asphyxiation, with the victim’s outstretched arms supporting his entire body weight it, making it very difficult to breathe, or from heart failure do to the shock of the person’s injuries from being nailed to the cross. Those surviving for longer often succumbed to sepsis due to infections from the nails or even dehydration if they were alive long enough.
In some instances, the executioners sought to hasten the death and reduce the suffering. This was done by publicly breaking the victim’s legs, smashing them to pieces by striking them with a huge iron bar. To be honest, this doesn’t sound at all like it would reduce suffering!
This method of execution was so painful that it even introduced a new word into our language: “ excruciating ” originates from the pain of crucifixion.
Most people will be familiar with the big Christian cross being used for the crucifixions (the cross that Jesus was executed on); however, not all crosses were this shape and some weren’t even crosses at all, with the condemned being tied with his hands above his head on a vertical wooden pole.
22 – Stoning
Stoning is actually quite an interesting form of capital punishment, in that it doesn’t have a traditional “ executioner ”. Instead, the public all contribute to the execution, and, with everyone being involved, no one person can be blamed for inflicting the fatal blow; of course, everyone involved must bear some of the responsibility!
This is a technique that has been used all over the world, for millennia. It is documented as a form of capital punishment as far back as the Ancient Greeks and it is still actually used actively in some parts of the world today.
The pain of being pelted with stones is immense, but death doesn’t come quickly; this makes it a form of torture as well as execution.
There are a number of crimes that are associated with stoning, but adultery seems to be the most common.
The actual stoning process usually starts with the condemned being partially buried in the ground. The upper body is fully exposed and can be moved freely, allowing some f orm of protection to the victim.
Once securely in the ground, a group of people will then gather round and throw stones at the condemned, usually until death occurs.
Unlike the other methods of execution included in this book, there is a possibility of survival; if the victim is able to escape the ground, the punishment stops (for now). If the victim then confesses to the crime they avoid a second stoning, however, refusing to do so will result in them being put straight back into the pit.
There is a clear case of gender discrimination when it comes to the stoning process, as men are only buried to the waist, whilst women are buried to the chest. This makes it much easier for a man to dig himself out of the ground than it is for a woman, giving males a much higher chance of survival.
For something so barbaric and uncivilized, one might expect the stone throwing bit to be a bit of a free-for-all. Remarkably this isn’t the case.
I t might surprise you to hear that there is an established set of rules for the stoning procedure,
Before being crucified, the condemned were forced to transport the cross from the prison to the site of the execution. The huge wooden beams would be incredibly heavy, and the victim would suffer a great deal just transporting it.
The victim would then be either tied, or nailed through the palm or wrists to the cross, dependent on the severity of their crime. It was also considered to be a form of public humiliation, with only a small loin cloth being worn to cover the person’s genitals, and the crosses being elevated high so that everyone could see.
Then, they would simply be left up there, until death arrived. This could take many hours, or even several days in some circumstances. The most common cause of death was asphyxiation, with the victim’s outstretched arms supporting his entire body weight it, making it very difficult to breathe, or from heart failure do to the shock of the person’s injuries from being nailed to the cross. Those surviving for longer often succumbed to sepsis due to infections from the nails or even dehydration if they were alive long enough.
In some instances, the executioners sought to hasten the death and reduce the suffering. This was done by publicly breaking the victim’s legs, smashing them to pieces by striking them with a huge iron bar. To be honest, this doesn’t sound at all like it would reduce suffering!
This method of execution was so painful that it even introduced a new word into our language: “ excruciating ” originates from the pain of crucifixion.
Most people will be familiar with the big Christian cross being used for the crucifixions (the cross that Jesus was executed on); however, not all crosses were this shape and some weren’t even crosses at all, with the condemned being tied with his hands above his head on a vertical wooden pole.
22 – Stoning
Stoning is actually quite an interesting form of capital punishment, in that it doesn’t have a traditional “ executioner ”. Instead, the public all contribute to the execution, and, with everyone being involved, no one person can be blamed for inflicting the fatal blow; of course, everyone involved must bear some of the responsibility!
This is a technique that has been used all over the world, for millennia. It is documented as a form of capital punishment as far back as the Ancient Greeks and it is still actually used actively in some parts of the world today.
The pain of being pelted with stones is immense, but death doesn’t come quickly; this makes it a form of torture as well as execution.
There are a number of crimes that are associated with stoning, but adultery seems to be the most common.
The actual stoning process usually starts with the condemned being partially buried in the ground. The upper body is fully exposed and can be moved freely, allowing some f orm of protection to the victim.
Once securely in the ground, a group of people will then gather round and throw stones at the condemned, usually until death occurs.
Unlike the other methods of execution included in this book, there is a possibility of survival; if the victim is able to escape the ground, the punishment stops (for now). If the victim then confesses to the crime they avoid a second stoning, however, refusing to do so will result in them being put straight back into the pit.
There is a clear case of gender discrimination when it comes to the stoning process, as men are only buried to the waist, whilst women are buried to the chest. This makes it much easier for a man to dig himself out of the ground than it is for a woman, giving males a much higher chance of survival.
For something so barbaric and uncivilized, one might expect the stone throwing bit to be a bit of a free-for-all. Remarkably this isn’t the case.
I t might surprise you to hear that there is an established set of rules for the stoning procedure,
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