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[WARNING: Graphic content] If you recall, we previously shared an article detailing the most horrifying execution methods in history. Now, we’re back with part two. While the first list was already unsettling, this one delves even deeper into humanity’s dark past. Brace yourself—this isn’t for the faint of heart. Finish your meal and prepare for a journey through some of history’s most terrifying practices.
10. Bestiarii
Death by wild beasts served as a brutal form of capital punishment, primarily reserved for enemies of the state, including prisoners of war and slaves convicted of severe crimes. Stripped of clothing and weapons, the condemned faced relentless attacks from wild animals. Even if they managed to kill one beast, more were released until the bestiarii were completely eliminated. Historical accounts suggest that a single animal often sufficed to kill multiple individuals. Cicero, for instance, documented a case where one lion killed 200 bestiarii.
9. Crushing
Crushing, or death by pressing, is an ancient execution method with diverse techniques across regions. While no longer legally sanctioned, it was widely practiced in South and South-East Asia for over 4,000 years, often involving elephants. The Romans and Carthaginians also employed this method. In Roman myth, Tarpeia, who betrayed Rome to the Sabines expecting jewelry, was crushed and thrown from the Tarpeian Rock, named after her. In the UK, St Margaret Clitherow, a Roman Catholic martyr, was pressed to death on March 25, 1586, for sheltering outlawed priests. She died in 15 minutes under a 700-pound weight. In the U.S., Giles Corey is the only recorded victim, pressed to death on September 19, 1692, during the Salem witch trials for refusing to plead.
8. Snake Pit
Snake pits served as a brutal method of execution in historical Europe. Convicts were thrown into deep pits filled with venomous snakes like vipers, leading to fatal bites and venom poisoning. One notable victim was Viking warlord Ragnar Lodbrok, executed in 865 after his defeat by King Aelle II of Northumbria. Similarly, ancient China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960) used a variant where prisoners were submerged in pools teeming with hundreds of venomous snakes, resulting in rapid death from multiple bites. Fans of pop culture might recall the iconic snake pit scene in *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, where Indiana Jones faces a pit of snakes while searching for the Ark of the Covenant.
7. Falling
Executing individuals by throwing or dropping them from great heights has ancient origins, with death resulting from the impact of hitting the ground at high speed. In pre-Roman Sardinia, elderly individuals unable to care for themselves were ritually killed using a neurotoxic plant, possibly hemlock water dropwort, before being dropped from cliffs or beaten to death. In modern times, Iran has reportedly used this method for crimes like sodomy. Amnesty International documented a case where two men convicted of raping university students were sentenced to death by being thrown from cliffs, while others involved received lashes. The Roman Forum, pictured above, overlooked the Gemonian stairs, a site where people were flung to their deaths.
6. Premature Burial
In ancient Rome, Vestal Virgins found guilty of breaking their vows of celibacy were subjected to live burial. They were sealed in caves with minimal provisions like bread and water, theoretically allowing the goddess Vesta to intervene if they were innocent. Similarly, in 17th and 18th century feudal Russia, women convicted of murdering their husbands faced execution via “the pit,” a form of live burial. The last recorded instance of this practice occurred in 1740. During World War II, Japanese soldiers were known to bury Chinese civilians alive, particularly during the Nanjing Massacre.
5. Mazzatello
The Mazzatello, or mazza, was a capital punishment method employed by the Papal States from the late 18th century until 1870. Named after the large mallet used, the execution took place in a public square in Rome. The condemned, accompanied by a priest, would be led to a scaffold featuring a coffin and a masked executioner dressed in black. After prayers for the condemned’s soul, the executioner would swing the mallet to strike the prisoner’s head, akin to methods used in slaughterhouses. If the blow failed to kill instantly, the prisoner’s throat was slit to ensure death.
4. Upright Jerker
The upright jerker was a 19th and early 20th-century execution device used sporadically in the United States as an alternative to hanging. Instead of a trapdoor drop, the condemned had a cord around their neck and was violently hoisted into the air using a system of weights and pulleys. The goal was to break the neck instantly for a quick death. This method saw limited adoption and was notably used in Connecticut, including for Gerald Chapman, the “Count of Gramercy Park.” However, it often failed to break the neck effectively and was phased out by the 1930s. A similar method, involving a crane to jerk the noose upward, is still used in Iran for executions.
3. Blood Eagle
The blood eagle, a method described in ancient Nordic legends, involves the victim lying face down while the executioner cuts into their back to expose the ribcage. The ribs are then severed and spread outward to resemble wings. The lungs are removed while the victim is still alive, and salt is sprinkled into the wounds. Historians debate whether this gruesome practice was real or fictional, but many believe it was used on figures like King Edmund of East Anglia and King Ella of Northumbria.
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2. Colombian Necktie
The Colombian necktie is a brutal execution method where the victim’s throat is slit, and their tongue is pulled through the wound. This practice became infamous during Colombia’s La Violencia period, starting in 1948 after the assassination of Jorge Eliecer Gaitan. It was used as psychological warfare to terrorize enemies. Variations of this method have been attributed to other nationalities, such as the Italian, Sicilian, Cuban, Slovakian, and Mexican neckties. Due to its graphic nature, a Gucci necktie image is shown here instead. Those curious can search online for more explicit visuals.
1. Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient and agonizing execution method where the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to die. While ropes were typically used, nails were occasionally employed. Contrary to artistic depictions showing loin cloths, victims were usually hung naked, exposing them to public humiliation and attracting insects as they relieved themselves. Death could take hours or days, depending on factors like the victim’s health, execution methods, and environmental conditions. Causes of death included blood loss, shock, infection from wounds, or dehydration. Emperor Constantine I abolished crucifixion in 337 AD out of reverence for Jesus Christ, its most famous victim. Saint Peter, crucified upside down out of humility, is another notable example. Crucifixion remains legal under Sharia law in some countries, with Sudan last using it in 2002 to sentence 88 individuals to death.
