The Worst Punishments in Human History

Summary

This video delves into some of the most horrifying and gruesome punishments used throughout history. From the 'Rat Dungeon' in medieval London, where prisoners were devoured by rats, to the excruciating 'Rack' torture, and the public execution methods like 'Crushed by Elephants' in India, the script paints a chilling picture of past cruelty. It also explores lesser-known tortures like 'Scaphism,' where victims were left to rot in a boat covered in milk and honey, and 'The Oubliette,' where prisoners were forgotten in dark, cramped cells. A gruesome yet fascinating journey through human history’s darkest moments.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Rat Dungeon was a terrifying punishment in medieval London, where prisoners were shackled in darkness and subjected to attacks by rats that swarmed the dungeon after the river's water rose.
• 😀 The Rack, used in the London Tower, was a brutal torture device that stretched a prisoner’s body to extract confessions, often resulting in permanent injury or paralysis.
• 😀 Keelhauling was a deadly punishment used on sailors, where a person was dragged around the ship, scraped by sharp barnacles, and often drowned or left with severe injuries.
• 😀 Crushed by elephants was a gruesome form of execution, notably in India, where criminals were slowly crushed by trained elephants, sometimes over days, often leading to slow and agonizing death.
• 😀 Impalement, a form of punishment used in Egypt, involved a victim being slowly and painfully pierced with a large stake, often resulting in horrific, prolonged death.
• 😀 Poena Cullei (Penalty of the Sack) involved murderers being sealed in a leather bag with animals like dogs, roosters, vipers, and monkeys, before being thrown into the sea or exposed to other brutal fates.
• 😀 The use of rats for torture, such as placing a heated clay bowl with a rat on a victim’s body, was a horrifying form of punishment that caused the rat to burrow into the person, tearing them apart.
• 😀 Gibbeting involved criminals being locked in iron cages and displayed in public for months, allowing them to rot alive while serving as a gruesome public warning.
• 😀 Scaphism was an ancient Persian method of execution that involved trapping a person in a boat, force-feeding them milk and honey, and exposing them to extreme conditions, causing a slow death through insects and filth.
• 😀 The Oubliette was a dungeon designed for prisoners to be forgotten in complete darkness and discomfort, often resulting in death from starvation, dehydration, or rat attacks, and sometimes even lasting for years.

Q & A

What was the purpose of the Rat Dungeon in medieval London?

The Rat Dungeon was a form of brutal punishment used during medieval times. Prisoners were shackled in complete darkness in a dungeon connected to the river. As the water rose, rats were pushed into the dungeon, where they would attack the prisoner, slowly consuming them while the prisoner was unable to defend themselves.

How did the Rack torture device work?

The Rack was a torture device used to extract confessions from prisoners. The prisoner was tied by their wrists and ankles to a large rotating device. As the device was turned, the ropes would tighten, stretching the prisoner’s limbs and causing intense pain. This often led to dislocated joints or paralysis.

What was Keelhauling, and how did it affect sailors?

Keelhauling was a severe punishment used at sea for sailors who committed crimes like theft or violence. The sailor was tied to a rope and dragged under the ship’s hull, often scraping against barnacles. This brutal punishment could cause death by drowning, broken bones, or severe wounds from the barnacles.

Why did the Mughal emperor use elephants for execution?

The Mughal emperor used elephants for executions as a means of public spectacle and to demonstrate control over both the animals and the fate of the criminals. The elephant would crush the prisoner, either quickly or slowly, and in some cases, the elephant was guided to torment the prisoner limb by limb before delivering the final blow.

How did impalement work as a method of execution?

Impalement involved a wooden stake being thrust into a person’s body, often starting from the rectum or abdomen and going through to their head or shoulders. This gruesome method could cause slow death over hours or even days, with some victims left to die in public as a warning to others.

What was Poena Cullei, and how was it carried out?

Poena Cullei was a punishment reserved for those who murdered family members. The criminal was placed inside a leather bag with animals such as a dog, rooster, viper, and monkey, and then the bag was sewn shut and thrown into the sea. The victim would die either from suffocation or drowning, while being tormented by the animals.

How were rats used in torturous punishments during the 1568 conflict?

During the 1568 conflict, a form of punishment involved placing a rat inside a heated clay bowl, which was then placed on a prisoner’s body. The rat, panicked by the heat, would burrow into the prisoner’s flesh in an attempt to escape, causing severe pain and often leading to death as the rat chewed its way out.

What was the purpose of Gibbeting, and how did it affect the public?

Gibbeting involved hanging the bodies of executed criminals in iron cages for public display. This served as both a deterrent and a grotesque spectacle. Bodies were often left to rot in the cages, causing a terrible stench and serving as a reminder of the consequences of crime.

What made Scaphism one of the most horrific forms of execution in ancient Persia?

Scaphism was a torturous execution where the victim was sealed in a boat with their arms and legs exposed. They were force-fed milk and honey, which caused diarrhea, and were covered in the substance, attracting insects and rodents. The victim would be exposed to the elements, with animals feeding on their flesh, leading to a slow, agonizing death over days.

What is the significance of the Oubliette as a form of punishment?

The Oubliette, meaning 'to forget' in French, was a small, dark, confined cell where prisoners were left to die from starvation or dehydration. These cells were often infested with rats and could contain the remains of previous prisoners. Some prisoners were left alive for years, enduring isolation and suffering before their eventual death.