Hell on Earth: Eight of History's Most Brutal Execution Methods

1. Crucifixion

Crucifixion, an ancient execution method notably used by the Romans, involved nailing or binding a person to a cross or similar structure. Victims endured prolonged agony from asphyxiation, blood loss, and exposure before succumbing to death.

2. Keelhauling

Keelhauling was a brutal punishment practiced by sailors, where the condemned was dragged under the keel of a ship. The victim suffered severe lacerations from barnacles and other marine growth, often resulting in drowning or fatal injuries.

3. Impalement

Impalement, a favored method of the notorious Vlad the Impaler, involved skewering a person through the body with a long stake. The victim could be impaled through various bodily orifices, leading to a slow and excruciating death as the stake was driven through vital organs.

4. Roman Candle

The Roman Candle execution, used particularly under Emperor Neros reign, involved tying a person to a stake and coating them in flammable substances. They were then set alight, effectively turning the victim into a human torch and causing a horrific, fiery death.

5. Flaying

Flaying involved the removal of a persons skin while they were still alive. This gruesome method, employed by various ancient cultures, caused intense pain and typically resulted in death from shock, blood loss, or infection.

6. The Rack

The Rack was a medieval torture device designed to stretch the victims body. By securing the limbs and gradually turning a wheel, executioners could dislocate joints and tear muscles, leading to unbearable pain and permanent physical damage or death.

7. The Boats

The Boats, also known as Scaphism, was an ancient Persian method where the victim was trapped between two boats and force-fed milk and honey. Left to float on a stagnant pond, the person would endure exposure, insect attacks, and ultimately die from infection and dehydration.

8. Rat Torture

Rat Torture exploited the natural behavior of rats by placing a rat in a container on the victims abdomen and heating the container. The panicked rat would burrow through the victims flesh to escape, causing extreme pain and often resulting in a gruesome and fatal injury.