The history of ancient execution methods is filled with a variety of gruesome practices: from the Middle Ages’ notorious method of hanging, drawing, and quartering individuals, to the peculiar Southeast Asian practice of execution by elephant trampling, the range of techniques employed over the years has been quite creative and imaginative.
Greek philosopher Plutarch, in his book ‘Life of Artaxerxes’, describes an execution method used in ancient Persia (now modern-day Iran) known as scaphism.
This method has been stated by a mortician to be the absolute worst way to die.
Holes were made in the boats so that the condemned person’s arms, legs, and head were left exposed, and then they were left to endure the sweltering heat of the sun.
This overfeeding would continue until the person was left lying in their own excrement.
This horrific form of torture could last for as long as 17 days.
Online reactions to this torturous method of execution have been quite strong, with some people expressing how this makes the idea of prison seem more tolerable by comparison.
Another person described the method as ‘brutal,’ saying, “You really REALLY have to hate someone SO MUCH to come up with such a brutal execution method.”
Another person contributed to the conversation by saying, “I think this might be the very worst way I’ve ever heard of to die.”
Executions, albeit in different forms, continue to this day, and a recent execution has stirred a lot of debate and controversy.
This method involves the inmate breathing pure nitrogen, which deprives them of the oxygen necessary for sustaining life.
While the Attorney General of Alabama described the execution as ‘textbook,’ others have criticized it as ‘inhumane.’
