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Insane Torture Methods to Prove Someone Was a Witch

The Infographics Show・20 minutes read

Witch hunts lasting almost two centuries led to close to 80,000 people being sentenced to death, with various tests like the Witch's Mark and Pricking Test used to identify witches. Innocent individuals like Rose Cullender and Amy Denny were wrongly accused of being witches and sentenced to death despite passing tests, highlighting the injustices of the witch hunts.

Insights

  • The witch hunts that spanned almost two centuries resulted in the deaths of close to 80,000 people, with various tests like the Witch's Mark, Swimming Test, and Prayer Test used to identify and execute alleged witches, showcasing the extreme measures taken during this dark period.
  • Despite the flawed nature of tests like the Touch Test and the unreliable methods like witch cakes and incantations, innocent individuals like Rose Cullender and Amy Denny were still wrongfully accused and sentenced to death as witches, highlighting the grave consequences of the hysteria and injustice prevalent during the witch hunts.

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Recent questions

  • What were some common tests used to identify witches?

    The tests used to identify witches included the Witch's Mark or Devil's Mark test, the Witch's Teat test, the Pricking Test, the Swimming Test, the Prayer Test, the Touch Test, the Witch Cakes test, the Incantations test, the ducking stool, and the weighing against Bibles test.

  • Where did the most famous witch hunt in history take place?

    The most famous witch hunt in history took place in Salem, Massachusetts.

  • How were individuals accused of witchcraft tested?

    Individuals accused of witchcraft were tested through various methods such as the Touch Test, the Prayer Test, the Swimming Test, the Pricking Test, the Witch Cakes test, the Incantations test, and the ducking stool.

  • What book outlined ways to identify witches?

    The book "Malleus Maleficarum" outlined ways to identify witches, test them, and execute them.

  • What were some physical characteristics used to identify witches?

    Physical characteristics used to identify witches included skin imperfections (Witch's Mark), third nipples (Witch's Teat), and appearance alone, such as a wrinkled face or blemishes.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Witch Hunts: Centuries of Fear and Persecution"

  • Witch hunts began in the 1400s and lasted for almost two centuries, leading to close to 80,000 people being sentenced to death.
  • The most famous witch hunt in history took place in Salem, Massachusetts.
  • The book "Malleus Maleficarum" outlined ways to identify witches, test them, and execute them.
  • The Witch's Mark or Devil's Mark test involved searching for skin imperfections to prove someone was a witch.
  • The Witch's Teat test involved looking for a third nipple, believed to be used by witches for evil purposes.
  • The Pricking Test involved pricking the skin to find hidden Witch's Marks, causing excruciating pain.
  • The Swimming Test determined witchcraft by seeing if the accused floated or sank in water, often leading to death.
  • The Prayer Test required reciting Bible verses flawlessly, with mistakes leading to accusations of witchcraft.
  • The Touch Test involved victims touching the accused to see if they had a special reaction, often leading to false accusations.
  • The Touch Test was misused, as seen in the case of Rose Cullender and Amy Denny in England in 1662.

10:55

Witch Trials: Tests, Torture, and Executions

  • Rose and Amy were tested to see if they were witches using the Touch Test, where their fists would open when touched by the old ladies, proving they were lying.
  • Despite passing the Touch Test, Rose and Amy were still sentenced to death as witches, pleading their innocence to no avail.
  • Witch Cakes, made from a victim's urine, rye-meal, and ashes, were fed to dogs in hopes of revealing witches' identities through possession.
  • Incantations test, where accused individuals were forced to order the devil to release a victim, was unreliable and easily faked during witch hunts.
  • The ducking stool, a medieval torture device, was used to force confessions from suspected witches by dunking them in water until they confessed.
  • Giles Corey, during the Salem Witch Trials, was pressed to death with stones to avoid losing his family's land, refusing to confess to being a witch.
  • Witches were sometimes identified by being weighed against Bibles, with lighter weights indicating witchcraft, although results were often manipulated.
  • Appearance alone, such as a wrinkled face or blemishes, could condemn individuals as witches during the witch hunts, leading to countless innocent deaths.
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