assyrian torture methods

This torture method apparently had a long tradition in Scandinavia and a couple of direct accounts were mentioned in old skaldic poems. Men had to right to murder adulterous wives. When the Assyrian king Seenacherib invaded Babylon, he wiped them off the map. For example, Neo-Assyrian kings used it to punish rebel leaders. Decreeing that Mithridates should be put to death in boats, two were framed exactly to fit his body to prevent escape. Accused of attending anti-regime protests, al-Drubi, 42, was detained in 2012. The device is rarely washed, so the victim either dies from impalement or infection. Keelhauling, which dates back in 800 B.C. Allegedly originating in Ceylon, with the first recorded account of bamboo torture stemming from a Madras civilian traveling during the 1820s in India, similar depictions have survived from throughout the region. Impalement, as a method of torture and execution, is the penetration of a human by an object such as a stake, pole, spear, or hook, often by the complete or partial perforation of the torso.It was particularly used in response to "crimes against the state" and regarded across a number of cultures as a very harsh form of capital punishment and recorded in myth and art. It shows the decapitated heads of the enemy Ummite soldiers being carried away by vultures. After the hell that women of all eras have suffered after wars, they and their children would be led off into slavery. Their kingdom which lasted for some 2000 years in an area (which is now Northern Iraq) had no natural barriers as such to protect their homeland. The origins of the torture date to as early as ancient Babylon, with the Code of Hammurabi (c. 1772 BCE) detailing the punishment of impalement for women convicted of murdering her husband. The cutting off of feet, lips and noses, blinding, gutting and the tearing out of the heart were all standard punishments in this. HBO. %PDF-1.4 % Flaying was both torture and execution, the method was slow and painful like most execution methods. Even if he gets lowered down slowly in order for his body to avoid the barnacles, he would still suffer from possible drowning or a head trauma. If you kissed another mans wife, they would cut off your lower lip with an axe. It was a widespread method which was implemented and documented in various accounts. Those convicted, commonly murderers and robbers, would be broken by the wheel for their sins, whereupon they were staked out and endured having their limbs broken. Louvre, Tello (ancient Girsu). Generally, an attempt is made to keep the removed portion of skin intact. 0000003095 00000 n Death often came slowly to those subjected to the practice, typically succumbing after several days to exhaustion or heart failure, whereafter their body would be left to rot as an example. Through the midst of that city I dug canals, I flooded its site with water, and the very foundations thereof I destroyed. A similar mode of execution was used as late as the early 18th century in France; one such episode is graphically recounted in the opening chapter of Michel Foucault's Discipline and Punish (1979). During the American Revolutionary War, both Loyalists and Patriots were recorded as inflicting the punishment upon their opponents. Wikimedia Commons. Life under the threat of Assyrian was horrifyingfor the Assyrians as well as their victims. Wikimedia Commons. Centuries later, Tacitus noted Germanic tribes practicing a ritual form of capital punishment, whereby those convicted of cowardice and other shameful vices were buried face down in mud. The women had it even worse. If a man was caught with another man, the law said, they shall turn him into a eunuch. Adultery was punishable by death. updated March 31, 2020, 8:32 pm, by They poured boiling water over us, burned us with cigarette butts.". 1p18i!J 8? In many recorded instances, the breast would be ripped clean off, along with a substantial portion of the upper torso, resulting in near-instant death. You are here: Home Ancient Punishment Ancient Torture Illustration of Assyrians Torturing Their Captives. Sometimes, they got creative. Nevertheless, the ancient Roman Candles signify the first organized persecutions of Christians under the Romans. In 1303, the treasury of Westminster Abbey was robbed while holding a large sum of money belonging to King Edward I. Assyria made sure of it. The victim would suffer hours of agonizing pain as the rats dig a hole through his body, after which he would inevitably die. Torturemuseum.net. The Babylonian destruction of their capital city Nineveh in 612 B.C. 0000001458 00000 n Known to have occurred as early as 2500 BCE, with archaeological evidence in the Sumerian city of Ur depicting the practice, it was also a prominent feature of early imperial China. And, it was described as one of the most cruel and graphic torture methods ever used. Wikimedia Commons. Since the victim would most likely lose consciousness after one or two severe wounds. [10] Lu Xun said the Ming dynasty was begun and ended by flaying.[11]. Another innovation attributed to the Spanish Inquisition, the Judas Cradle, also known as the Judas Chair or Guided Cradle, was a torture device dating from the 16th century. Heating the bowls with charcoal, the rats would gnaw into the very bowels of the victim. In their royal edicts, the Neo-Assyrian kings seem to gloat over the terrible fate they imposed upon their captives, and that flaying seems, in particular, to be the fate meted out to rebel leaders. Christ on the Cross, by Carl Bloch (c. 1870). This article has been adapted from its original source. The act of inflicting physical or psychological pain upon an individual, torture has served both a human as well as a judicial function since our earliest emergence into recorded history. This would result to the body looking like a spread eagle, thus the name of the torture method. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Suspending the individual by a rope attached to the wrists, with weights added, if necessary, to increase the pain. The period from the ninth century to the end of the seventh century B.C. Then, in the third year, they would be allowed to live with their familiesbefore starting the cycle again. The stake would be hammered in with a mallet, and it would come out at either his breast, head, or shoulders. The captives I have killed by the sword and flung on the dung heap. Although today generally outlawed (at least in the Western world; regarded as a barbaric deed) torture was once regarded as a righteous and just treatment in response to a criminal outrage. It is unclear whether keelhauling was a common practice during the ancient world. Activists are now calling on Congress to place more sanctions . A notable figure who enjoyed this method of torture was the Prince of Wallachia, Vlad III. Life behind a citys walls when the Assyrian army drew close was terrifying. The practice of flaying was popularized under the Neo-Assyrian Empire during the 9th century BCE, with carvings dating to the reign of Ashurnasirpal II (r. 883-859 BCE) depicting the gruesome details. I don't know where he is from, nor who he is. Photo credit: Wikimedia. 434 0 obj<> endobj The Assyrian Tragedy. (AFP/GETTY IMAGES). "The name of the person who tortured me was Somar al Wahid. When it comes to psychological warfare in the form of sheer brutality, impalement wasn't the only thing the ancient Assyrians turned tothey had other methods of scaring the life out of their neighbors. They seized my feet and said: If it pleases you, kill! He wrote, I hung the heads of the kings upon the shoulders of their nobles, and with singing and music I paraded.. Using this method of torture would require the victim to be stripped and suspended above the device. Centuries later, the Roman Emperor Hadrian reputedly used such a device to torture and kill Christians. Gradually declining, by 1813 the practice started to be outlawed, with the last known execution by the wheel known to have occurred taking place in Prussia in 1841. The latter depicted in the popular television series Vikings, is recorded in the Tale of Ragnars Sons, describing the English kings torture at the hands of Ivar the Boneless. Lewandowski, Herv. Instead, they were more frequently attached by rope in order to prolong the torture. Whilst small-scale flaying, although painful, is endurable, large-scale skinning inevitably leads to death. Transmitted to the funerary rites of the Mongol Khans during the 13th and 14th centuries, these great conquerors were reportedly buried along with more than a dozen slaves. The principle of crushing bones and limbs was a popular form of torture in medieval times, mainly because the devices used were simple to design and make. Flaying. The method consisted of trapping the victim in the space between two small boats or two hollowed-out tree trunks and force-feeding them milk and honey over the course of a few days until the person died. Before the battle began, people would often be given a chance to surrender. Keelhauling was an official punishment in the Dutch Navy, although only rarely enforced due to its harsh nature. Although women were excluded from these practices and doctors were required to be present, the Inquisition nevertheless enjoyed near limitless authority to inflict suffering upon those entrusted to their custody. This is often referred to as flaying alive. Pressing as a form of punishment dates back to the 13th century in England. VEerzLB(%_E|=".hq%%}]|~8P[Cxwf{7B_`s@jKSbJAsxAP,XRY\HmY8@iCK3rT ,4 _f,alNsg3kCQ87{i$js/8ZuU5{3{$\^75Bp,?q[Y0WB:Zi>PTYa,j0a'Np^ee6d1}$|>U}co~UE~OeXm7lfb}@;`b\v+Tu:2ylCYac0A-z~wg0y'4>-{3Qka3EJ?4uObNW=IeZ6oKq'Rcca.PvFz4Mw_Wsn>!);? In order for the method to work, it had to take place in a swamp or somewhere where the boats could lie exposed to the sun. Individuals locked into the device would find themselves unable to eat, sleep, or even lie down. endstream endobj 435 0 obj<>>>/LastModified(D:20030926134002)/MarkInfo<>>> endobj 437 0 obj[438 0 R 439 0 R 440 0 R] endobj 438 0 obj<>>> endobj 439 0 obj<>>> endobj 440 0 obj<>>> endobj 441 0 obj<>/Font<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC]/ExtGState<>>>/StructParents 0>> endobj 442 0 obj<> endobj 443 0 obj[/ICCBased 449 0 R] endobj 444 0 obj<> endobj 445 0 obj<> endobj 446 0 obj<>stream Ashurbanipal was the king of Assyria from 668 to 627 BC, and he was apparently quite gifted intellectually. . Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or. There were no accurate details of how this method of execution was carried out. Starting with the dragging of the individual, fastened to a hurdle drawn by horse, from the site of imprisonment to their place of execution, along the route he would be pelted with rotten food and excrement by the public. xbbc`b``3 A-` 4-r With the practice gradually watered down due to public opposition to its brutality, it was eventually abolished entirely in 1870. In contrast to common depiction, most crucifixions did not involve the nailing of the victims hands or feet to the cross. Ironically, in a reversal of fortunes for the Babylonians, Darius I of Persia would later impale 3,000 of their own in vengeance. @#2:0D)5@SH(*@6C Assyrian torture method. by Eventually, it is claimed that the tyrant was himself murdered with the very instrument of his cruelty by Telemachus. [7][8] Hai Rui suggested that his emperor flay corrupt officials. This is often referred to as flaying alive. From here, he was transferred to the Hama military airport, where he was beaten upon arrival, stripped naked, interrogated and tortured. In fact, impalement, if done properly, permits the individual to survive for several days, with the longest known victim suffering for more than eight days. Tortured by the Syrian Bashar al-Assad regime in prison for seven years, Muhlis al-Drubi cannot forget the horrors he experienced, including having boiling water poured over him and reverse hanging. The ribs are then detached from the backbone. If you think you can handle it, then heres a list of ancient torture methods thatll be sure to make your toes curl. This form of execution became famous when Giles Corey, an American farmer charged with witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. [00aR/NU(=PpF In the ancient Far East, where there were large states peopled by many different ethnicities, leaders demonstrated their might by inventing ingenious new tortures and agonizing methods of execution as a way to keep the population obedient. Frequently using oil, tar, or tallow, various cultures and civilizations spanning Europe and Asia are known to have employed boiling as a means of inflicting great pain upon condemned persons. 0000001020 00000 n 0000001565 00000 n [citation needed]. trailer The Assyrians were known for being very barbaric when it came to torturing slaves and prisoners of war. 10 Times Britain Was Successfully Invaded, Top 10 Must-See Recent Genre-Defying Horrors, The Listverse Compendium Of 113 Halloween Horrors, 10 Men Suspected Of Being Jack The Ripper (Who, 10 Ways Being Attractive Can Work Against You, 10 People Who Willingly Returned To Being Prisoners, Bizarre Police Vehicles That Are Actually Being Used, 8 Dark Facts About Being Single, And Why You Really, 10 Controversial Toys You Might Already Have in Your Home, Ten Absolutely Vicious Fights over Inherited Fortunes, 10 Female Film Pioneers Who Shaped the Movies, Ten True Tales from Americas Toughest Prison, 10 Times Members of Secretive Societies and Organizations Spilled the Beans, 10 Common Idioms with Unexpectedly Dark Origins, 10 North American Animals with Misplaced Reputations, eat their own excrement and drink their own urine, necklaces with their kings heads on them, 10 Forgotten Battles That Changed World History, 10 Stages in the History of Drinking Parties, 10 Letters From Everyday People On The Other Side Of History, 10 Eccentric Ways To Obtain A Medal Of Honor. Murderers were handed over to the victims family, who were free to do with them as they willed. A dead animal may be flayed when preparing it to be used as human food, or for its hide or fur. Assyrian International News Agency Books Online www.aina.org. Thereafter, his head, hands, and feet, were left outside the boats, whilst the remainder of his person was contained within the floating prison. 10, The Strappado, by Jacques Callot (c. 1633). The former, a bi-pronged fork attached to a belt around the victims neck, unflinchingly secured the angle of the head. Immurement of a nun, as part of a fictitious painting by Vinzenz Katzler (c. 1868). . Torture is unpleasant, as indeed is the intended purpose of the practice. An envoy would ride up to the city walls, knowing the fear the people there already felt, and would promise them that if they bowed down and paid tribute to Assyria, they would be allowed to live. under the powerful northern Mesopotamian state of Mitanni, Assyria's fortunes revived in the reign of Ashur-uballit I (1365-1330 B.C.). In 1323, the Mexica tribe asked for Yaocihuatl, daughter of Achicometl, ruler of Culhuacan in marriage. He would then be planted straight on the ground and left for exposure. He would then be lowered very slowly, the pyramid opening his anal orifice and slowly impaling him. Middle Assyrian Period. In at least one case, an Assyrian king made the women lift their skirts over their heads and march blindly after their captors. Appearing in civilizations around the world, two primary purposes recur as the motivations behind the practice: human sacrifice and criminal punishment. These kind of artifacts are very common. Their artistic propaganda relishes every detail of torture, massacre, battlefield executions and human displacement that made Assyria the dominant power of the Middle East from about 900 to. xref The convicted would be taken to a public stage and tied on the floor. The bandit Ishikawa Goemon, being boiled to death for the attempted assassination of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 16th-century Japan (c. mid-19th century). Its origin dates back to 530 A.D., And throughout the years, people have come up with new ways to perform these torturous acts probably hoping to obtain the truth efficiently or just to satisfy their sick pleasures. As the Assyrian Empire grew, they built a standing army. The Zhengde Emperor flayed six rebels,[9] and Zhang Xianzhong also flayed many people. The ancient Assyrian were among the most ruthless of all ancient warriors. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. This was Assyriathe first nation to make its military might its central policy and the first nation to torment its enemies with psychological warfare. It should be noted, nevertheless, that the Dutch did not intend the practice to be fatal and allowed for respites in the torture to recover. The wheel would be erected like a pole, and the executioner would be permitted to decapitate the convict. This is more commonly called skinning. More often than not, though, the surviving men would be put through the hells they used to psychologically terrify the world. Tortured by the Syrian Bashar al-Assad regime in prison for seven years, Muhlis al-Drubi cannot forget the horrors he experienced, including having boiling water poured over him and reverse. Trapping a condemned prisoner, the individual would be force-fed milk and honey as well as coated in the foodstuffs. In the sixth season of the television series, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 13:11. The rocks were to be used to build palaces and wonders for the kings, and the slaves couldnt stop for a moment. The victim would be repeatedly fed and covered with the honey mixture in order to prolong the torture. A millennium later, the Neo-Assyrian King Sennacherib (r. 705-681 BCE) is recorded as impaling surviving Judeans after the Siege of Lachish. The result was one of the strongest armies in the world. And the lungs would be ripped out and spread over the ribs, making them look like wings. Accordingly, depending on the whims of the torturer, weights might be added to the legs of the victim to hasten their demise. It has been suggested, without corroboration, that these candles were used as decorations during formal parties held by Nero. Whilst flaying after death has been historically recorded, typically as a means of debasing the enemys honor and reserved for instances such as criminality, the predominant occurrences took place during life. . HyTSwoc [5laQIBHADED2mtFOE.c}088GNg9w '0 Jb In the second year, they would go out to war. At least two individuals, Richard Roose and Margaret Davy, in 1531 and 1542 respectively, are known to have suffered this particular fate before abandonment under Edward VI in 1547.