Most people these days hope that they will die peacefully in their sleep, surrounded by loved ones. But for the victims of these 15 methods of execution practiced throughout history, everything turned out to be not so rosy. Whether it's being burned alive or limbs being slowly cut off, these deaths are sure to shock you. Particularly sophisticated methods of torture were used in the Middle Ages, but in other periods of time torture was one of the most popular methods of punishment or obtaining information. It is amazing that just 100 years ago such a practice was considered everyday, thousands of people gathered for it, just as in our time they gather for a concert or exhibition.

15. Burial alive.

Burial alive begins our list of common executions. Dating back to BC, this punishment was used for individuals as well as groups. The victim is usually tied up and then placed in a hole and slowly buried in soil. One of the most widespread uses of this form of execution was the Nanjing Massacre during World War II, when Japanese soldiers executed Chinese civilians en masse alive in what was referred to as the "Ten Thousand Corpse Ditch."

14. Pit with snakes.

One of the oldest forms of torture and execution, snake pits were a very standard form of capital punishment. The criminals were thrown into a deep pit of poisonous snakes, dying after the irritated and hungry snakes attacked them. Several famous leaders were executed this way, including Ragnar Lothbrok, the Viking warlord, and Gunnar, King of Burgundy.

13. Spanish tickler.

This torture device was commonly used in Europe during the Middle Ages. Used to rip through the victim's skin, this weapon could easily rip through anything, including muscle and bone. The victim would be tied down, sometimes publicly, and then the torturers would begin to mutilate her. Usually they started with the limbs, the neck and torso were always saved for completion.

12. Slow cutting.

Ling Shi, which translates to "slow cutting" or "continuous death", is described as death by a thousand cuts. Performed from 900 to 1905, this form of torture was spread over a long period of time. The torturer slowly cuts the victim, prolonging his life and torture as long as possible. According to Confucian principle, a body that is cut into pieces cannot be whole in the spiritual afterlife. Therefore, it was understood that after such an execution the victim would suffer in the afterlife.

11. Burning at the stake.

Death by burning has been used as a form of capital punishment for centuries, often associated with crimes such as treason and witchcraft. Today it is considered cruel and unusual punishment, but back in the 18th century, burning at the stake was a normal practice. The victim was tied up, often in the city center with spectators, and then burned at the stake. It is considered one of the slowest ways to die.

10. African necklace.

Usually carried out in South Africa, the execution called the Necklace is unfortunately still quite common today. Rubber tires filled with gasoline are placed around the victim's chest and arms and then set on fire. Essentially, the victim's body is reduced to a molten mass, which explains why this makes the top ten on our list.

9. Execution by an elephant.

In South and Southeast Asia, the Elephant has been a method of capital punishment for thousands of years. The animals were trained to perform two actions. Slowly, over a long period of time torturing the victim, or with a crushing blow destroying it almost immediately. Typically used by kings and nobles, these killer elephants only heightened the fear ordinary people, who thought the king had supernatural powers to control wild animals. This method of execution was eventually adopted by the Roman military. This is how soldiers who deserted were punished.

8. Execution "Five Punishments".

This form of Chinese capital punishment is a relatively simple act. It begins with the victims' nose being cut off, then one arm and one foot are cut off, and finally the victim is castrated. The inventor of this punishment, Li Sai, the Chinese Prime Minister, was eventually tortured and then executed in the same manner.

7. Colombian tie.

This method of execution is one of the bloodiest. The victim's throat was cut and then the tongue was pulled out through the open wound. During La Violencia, a period in Colombian history fraught with torture and war, this was the most common form of execution.

6. Hanging, stretching and quartering.

Execution for treason in England, with hanging, drawing and quartering, was common during medieval times. Although torture was abolished in 1814, this form of execution was responsible for the deaths of hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of people.

5. Cement boots.

Introduced by the American Mafia, this method of execution involves placing the victim's feet in cinder blocks and then filling them with cement, then throwing the victim into water. This form of execution is rare but is still carried out today.

4. Guillotine.

The guillotine is one of the most famous forms of execution. The guillotine blade was sharpened so perfectly that it decapitated the victim almost instantly. Guillotine - in appearance humane method executions until you find out that people could potentially still be alive for a few moments after the action. People in the crowd said that those executed who were beheaded could blink their eyes or even speak words after their heads were cut off. Experts theorized that the speed of the blade did not cause loss of consciousness.

3. Republican wedding.

Republican Wedding may not be the worst death on this list, but it is certainly one of the most interesting. Originating in France, this form of execution was common among the Revolutionaries. It involved tying up two people, usually of the same age, and drowning them. In some cases, where water was not available, the couple was executed by sword.

2. Crucifixion.

This ancient method of execution is one of the most famous, apparently due to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The victim was hung by the hands on a cross, forced to hang there until death occurred, which usually took days until the victim died of thirst.

1. Copper bull.

The Brazen Bull, sometimes known as the Sicilian Bull, is one of the most brutal methods of torture. Designed in ancient Greece the method involved creating a hollow bull made of copper, with a door on the side that opened and locked. To begin the execution, the victim was placed in a copper bull and a fire was placed underneath. The fire was maintained until the metal was literally yellow, causing the victim to "fry to death." The bull was designed to allow the screams of the victim to come out to the delight of the executioner and the many villagers who came to watch. Sometimes all the residents of the city came to watch the execution. Predictably, the inventor of this execution ended up being burned in a bull.

Continue reading about the instruments of torture of the 17th and 18th centuries in a separate article.

History knows many sophisticated methods of execution, and judging by how cruel these executions were, we can say that our ancestors were bloodthirsty and evil. They invented more and more new types of execution for their own entertainment.

1.

Death under an elephant


In Southeast Asia, execution with the help of an elephant, which crushed the condemned, was popular. Moreover, elephants were often trained to act in such a way as to prolong the death of the victim.

2.

Walk the plank


This form of execution, walking along a plank overboard, was mainly practiced by pirates. The condemned often did not even have time to drown, because the ships were usually followed by hungry sharks.

3.

Bestiary


Bestiaries were a popular entertainment during the times of Ancient Rome, when the condemned entered the arena against wild, hungry animals. Although sometimes such cases were voluntary and entered the arena in search of money or recognition, mostly political prisoners who were sent to the arena unarmed fell to the mercy of the victims.

4.

Mazzatello


This execution was named after the weapon (usually a hammer) used to kill the defendant in the Papal States in the 18th century. The executioner read out the accusation in the city square, after which he hit the victim on the head with a hammer. As a rule, this only stunned the victim, after which his throat was cut.

5.

Vertical shaker


Originating in the United States, this method death penalty now often used in countries such as Iran. Although it is very similar to hanging, there is a significant difference: the victim did not have a hatch opened under his feet or the chair was kicked out from under his feet, but the condemned man was lifted up using a crane.

6.

Flaying

Skinning a person's body was often used to instill fear in people, as the skin was then usually nailed to a wall in public place.

7.

Bloody Eagle


The Scandinavian sagas described a bloody method of execution: the victim was cut along the spine, then the ribs were broken out so that they resembled the wings of an eagle. Then the lungs were pulled out through the incision and hung on the ribs. At the same time, all the wounds were sprinkled with salt.

8.

Roasting rack


The victim was secured on a horizontal grate, under which hot coals were placed. After this, she was slowly roasted, often stretching out the execution for hours.

9.

Crushing


In Europe and America there was also a method similar to Indian elephant crushing, only here stones were used. As a rule, such an execution was used to extract a confession from the accused. Each time the accused refused to confess, the executioner added another stone. And so on until the victim died from suffocation.

10.

Spanish tickler


The device, also known as cat paws, was used by executioners to tear and skin the victim. Often death did not occur immediately, but later as a result of infection in the wounds.

11.

Burning at the stake


Historically popular method of capital punishment. If the victim was lucky, he was executed at the same time as several others. This ensured that the flame was much larger and death was due to poisoning carbon monoxide, and not from combustion.

12.

Bamboo


Extremely slow and painful punishment was used in Asia. The victim was tied over pointed bamboo shoots. Considering that bamboo grows phenomenally quickly (up to 30 cm per day), it grew directly through the victim’s body, slowly piercing it.

13.

Buried alive


This method has been used by governments throughout history to kill convicted prisoners. One of the last recorded cases was during the Nanjing Massacre in 1937, when Japanese troops buried Chinese people alive.

14.

Lin Chi


Also known as death by a thousand cuts, this form of execution involved cutting small pieces from the victim's body. At the same time, the executioner tried to preserve the life of the victim as long as possible.

15.

Colombian tie


Drug cartels in Colombia and elsewhere Latin America practice similar executions of traitors who give information to the police or competitors. The victim's throat is cut and the tongue is pulled out through it.

An eerie selection of the most brutal methods of execution, which were considered commonplace and absolutely normal just 100 years ago. Some of these cruel options for the death penalty make you feel uneasy and even now give you goosebumps. Read on, but not for the faint of heart.

15. Burial alive.

Burial alive begins our list of common executions. Dating back to BC, this punishment was used for individuals as well as groups. The victim is usually tied up and then placed in a hole and slowly buried in soil. One of the most widespread uses of this form of execution was the Nanjing Massacre during World War II, when Japanese soldiers executed Chinese civilians en masse alive in what was referred to as the "Ten Thousand Corpse Ditch."

14. Pit with snakes.

One of the oldest forms of torture and execution, snake pits were a very standard form of capital punishment. The criminals were thrown into a deep pit of poisonous snakes, dying after the irritated and hungry snakes attacked them. Several famous leaders were executed this way, including Ragnar Lothbrok, the Viking warlord, and Gunnar, King of Burgundy.

13. Spanish tickler.

This torture device was commonly used in Europe during the Middle Ages. Used to rip through the victim's skin, this weapon could easily rip through anything, including muscle and bone. The victim would be tied down, sometimes publicly, and then the torturers would begin to mutilate her. Usually they started with the limbs, the neck and torso were always saved for completion.

12. Slow cutting.

Ling Shi, which translates to "slow cutting" or "continuous death", is described as death by a thousand cuts. Performed from 900 to 1905, this form of torture was spread over a long period of time. The torturer slowly cuts the victim, prolonging his life and torture as long as possible. According to Confucian principle, a body that is cut into pieces cannot be whole in the spiritual afterlife. Therefore, it was understood that after such an execution the victim would suffer in the afterlife.

11. Burning at the stake.

Death by burning has been used as a form of capital punishment for centuries, often associated with crimes such as treason and witchcraft. Today it is considered cruel and unusual punishment, but back in the 18th century, burning at the stake was a normal practice. The victim was tied up, often in the city center with spectators, and then burned at the stake. It is considered one of the slowest ways to die.

10. African necklace.

Typically carried out in South Africa, the Necklace execution is unfortunately still quite common today. Rubber tires filled with gasoline are placed around the victim's chest and arms and then set on fire. Essentially, the victim's body is reduced to a molten mass, which explains why this makes the top ten on our list.

9. Execution by an elephant.

In South and Southeast Asia, the Elephant has been a method of capital punishment for thousands of years. The animals were trained to perform two actions. Slowly, over a long period of time torturing the victim, or with a crushing blow destroying it almost immediately. Usually used by kings and nobles, these killer elephants only increased the fear of the common people, who thought that the king had supernatural power to control wild animals. This method of execution was eventually adopted by the Roman military. This is how soldiers who deserted were punished.

8. Execution "Five Punishments".

This form of Chinese capital punishment is a relatively simple act. It begins with the victims' nose being cut off, then one arm and one foot are cut off, and finally the victim is castrated. The inventor of this punishment, Li Sai, the Chinese Prime Minister, was eventually tortured and then executed in the same manner.

7. Colombian tie.

This method of execution is one of the bloodiest. The victim's throat was cut and then the tongue was pulled out through the open wound. During La Violencia, a period in Colombian history fraught with torture and war, this was the most common form of execution.

6. Hanging, stretching and quartering.

Execution for treason in England, with hanging, drawing and quartering, was common during medieval times. Although torture was abolished in 1814, this form of execution was responsible for the deaths of hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of people.

5. Cement boots.

Introduced by the American Mafia, this method of execution involves placing the victim's feet in cinder blocks and then filling them with cement, then throwing the victim into water. This form of execution is rare but is still carried out today.

4. Guillotine.

The guillotine is one of the most famous forms of execution. The guillotine blade was sharpened so perfectly that it decapitated the victim almost instantly. The guillotine is a seemingly humane method of execution until you learn that people could potentially still be alive for several moments after the act. People in the crowd said that those executed who were beheaded could blink their eyes or even speak words after their heads were cut off. Experts theorized that the speed of the blade did not cause loss of consciousness.

3. Republican wedding.

Republican Wedding may not be the worst death on this list, but it is certainly one of the most interesting. Originating in France, this form of execution was common among the Revolutionaries. It involved tying up two people, usually of the same age, and drowning them. In some cases, where water was not available, the couple was executed by sword.

25. Skafism

An ancient Persian method of execution in which a person was stripped naked and placed in a tree trunk so that only the head, arms and legs protruded. They were then fed only milk and honey until the victim suffered from severe diarrhea. Thus in everything open areas honey got into the body, which was supposed to attract insects. As the person's feces accumulated, it would increasingly attract insects and they would start feeding and breeding in his/her skin, which would become more gangrenous. Death may take more than 2 weeks and is most likely due to starvation, dehydration and shock.

24. Guillotine

Created in the late 1700s, it was one of the first methods of execution that called for ending a life rather than inflicting pain. Although the guillotine was specifically invented as a form of human execution, it was banned in France, and was last used in 1977.

23. Republican marriage

Very strange method execution was practiced in France. The man and woman were tied together and then thrown into the river to drown.

22. Cement shoes

The execution method was preferred by the American mafia. Similar to Republican Marriage in that it used drowning, but instead of being tied to a person of the opposite sex, the victim's feet were placed in concrete blocks.

21. Execution by an elephant

Elephants in Southeast Asia were often trained to prolong the death of their prey. The elephant is a heavy beast, but easy to train. Teaching him to trample criminals on command has always been an exciting thing. Many times this method has been used to show that there are rulers even in the natural world.

20. Walk on the plank

Mainly practiced by pirates and sailors. The victims often did not have time to drown, as they were attacked by sharks, which, as a rule, followed the ships.

19. Bestiary - torn to pieces by wild animals

Bestiaries are criminals in Ancient Rome who were given over to be torn to pieces wild animals. Although sometimes the act was voluntary and carried out for money or recognition, often the bestiaries were political prisoners who were sent into the arena naked and unable to defend themselves.

18. Mazatello

The method is named after the weapon used during execution, usually a hammer. This method of capital punishment was popular in the Papal States in the 18th century. The condemned man was escorted to the scaffold in the square and he was left alone with the executioner and the coffin. Then the executioner raised the hammer and struck the victim's head. Since such a blow, as a rule, did not lead to death, the victims' throats were cut immediately after the blow.

17. Vertical “shaker”

Originating in the United States, this method of capital punishment is now often used in countries such as Iran. Although it is very similar to hanging, in in this case to break spinal cord, victims were violently lifted up by the neck, usually with the help of a crane.

16. Sawing

Supposedly used in parts of Europe and Asia. The victim was turned upside down and then sawed in half, starting from the groin. Since the victim was upside down, the brain received enough blood to keep the victim conscious while the major abdominal vessels were ruptured.

15. Skinning

The act of removing skin from a person's body. This type of execution was often used to incite fear, as the execution was usually carried out in a public place in full view of everyone.

14. Bloody Eagle

This type of execution was described in the Scandinavian sagas. The victim's ribs were broken so that they resembled wings. Then the lungs of the victim were pulled through the hole between the ribs. The wounds were sprinkled with salt.

13. Torture grid

Roasting a victim over hot coals.

12. Crush

Although you have already read about the elephant crushing method, there is another similar method. Crushing was popular in Europe and America as a method of torture. Each time the victim refused to comply, more weight was placed on their chest until the victim died from lack of air.

11. Wheeling

Also known as Catherine's Wheel. The wheel looked like an ordinary cart wheel, only large sizes with a lot of spokes. The victim was undressed, the arms and legs were spread out and tied, then the executioner beat the victim with a large hammer, breaking the bones. At the same time, the executioner tried not to deliver fatal blows.

So, the most brutal executions and torture top 10:

10. Spanish tickler

The method is also known as "cat's paws". These devices were used by the executioner to tear and tear off the skin of the victim. Often death did not occur immediately, but as a result of infection.

9. Burning at the stake

A popular method of death penalty in history. If the victim was lucky, he or she was executed along with several others. This ensured that the flames would be large and that death would result from carbon monoxide poisoning rather than being burned alive.

8. Bamboo

Extremely slow and painful punishment was used in Asia. The bamboo stems sticking out of the ground were sharpened. The accused was then hung over the place where this bamboo grew. The rapid growth of bamboo and its pointed tips allowed the plant to pierce the body of a person in one night.

7. Premature burial

This technique has been used by governments throughout the history of capital punishment. One of the last documented cases was during the Nanjing massacre in 1937, when Japanese troops buried Chinese citizens alive.

6. Ling Chi

Also known as "death by slow cutting" or "slow death", this form of execution was eventually outlawed in China in the early 20th century. The victim's body organs were slowly and methodically removed while the executioner tried to keep him or her alive as long as possible.

5. Seppuku

A form of ritual suicide that allowed a warrior to die with honor. It was used by samurai.

4. Copper bull

The design of this death machine was developed by the ancient Greeks, namely the coppersmith Perillus, who sold the terrible bull to the Sicilian tyrant Phalaris so that he could execute criminals in a new way. Inside the copper statue, through the door, a living person was placed. And then... Phalaris first tested the unit on its developer, the unfortunate greedy Perilla. Subsequently, Phalaris himself was roasted in a bull.

3. Colombian tie

A person's throat is cut with a knife, and the tongue sticks out through the hole. This method of murder indicated that the murdered man had given some information to the police.

2. Crucifixion

A particularly cruel method of execution, used mainly by the Romans. It was as slow, painful and humiliating as it could be. Usually, after prolonged beating or torture, the victim was forced to carry his cross to the place of his death. She was subsequently either nailed or tied to a cross, where she hung for several weeks. Death, as a rule, occurred from lack of air.

1. The most brutal executions: Hanged, drowned and dismembered

Used mainly in England. The method is considered one of the most brutal forms of execution ever created. As the name suggests, the execution was carried out in three parts. Part one - the victim was tied to wooden frame. So she hung almost until she was half dead. Immediately after this, the victim's stomach was ripped open, and the insides were taken out and removed. Next, the entrails were burned in front of the victim. The condemned man was then beheaded. After all this, his body was divided into four parts and scattered throughout England as a public display. This punishment was applied only to men; convicted women, as a rule, were burned at the stake.