Scaphism: A Gruesome Form of Torture This term evokes chills. Scaphism is one of the most horrific and terrifying forms of punishment ever devised. It is not just a means of physical torture but also inflicts prolonged agony.
What is Scaphism?
This punishment causes prolonged agony. (Image: historydefined).
Scaphism is a form of torture, also known as “the boat”, and it originates from Persia.
The term scaphism itself comes from Greek, where “skaphe” means hollow or scooped out. True to its name, scaphism involves confining the victim between two boats or hollowed-out wooden containers.
These boats or containers are shaped to fit the human body, so that the victim remains inside with only their head, arms, and legs exposed. The victim is then tightly wedged between the two boats, severely restricting their movement and rendering them completely helpless.
For this method to be effective, it is carried out in a swampy area or somewhere with direct sunlight. Once trapped in the boats, with only their head, arms, and legs exposed, the victim is forced to consume a mixture of milk and honey. As they are compelled to swallow against their will, this mixture splatters everywhere, covering their eyes, face, and neck. Subsequently, this mixture is smeared over their exposed body parts, aimed at attracting all kinds of insects, pests, and wild animals in the area. Before long, flies and rodents appear and begin to attack the victim, consuming the milk and honey mixture while also feeding on the living flesh in the process.
Not only are victims eaten alive by rodents, but they also suffer from severe diarrhea, leaving them weak and dehydrated. This horrifying symptom is a deliberate consequence of forcing them to consume milk and honey. The more they eat of this mixture, the more they defecate inside the boat, yet they also manage to survive longer. This aspect is the most brutal yet effective part of scaphism: victims cannot die from dehydration due to diarrhea because they continue to eat milk and honey daily. As a result, victims can endure for many days, even weeks, in a small hell filled with insects, feces, milk, and honey.
Insects gradually invade their bodies, feeding on them from the inside out. Ultimately, this is what kills the victim. When the two boats are separated, the victim’s body is found in a state of being half-eaten.
The psychological pain of enduring such a prolonged and brutal death leads victims to helplessly plead for a swift end. A typical victim of scaphism was a young Persian soldier named Mithridates, who died around 401 BC. He was sentenced to death for inadvertently killing “Cyrus the Younger,” the brother of King Artaxerxes II and a rival for the throne. King Artaxerxes was actually grateful to this soldier for eliminating a threat to him and secretly protected him, but when Mithridates forgot the agreement and began boasting about killing Cyrus, he was immediately sentenced. According to the records of Plutarch, the Greek biographer, this soldier endured scaphism for 17 days before dying.
Some believe that scaphism was an actual method of execution in ancient Persia, asserting that this form was reserved for the most deserving of punishment, from traitors to ruthless murderers. However, not everyone agrees. Many scholars argue that scaphism is entirely fictional.
Historical Context and Origins
An illustration depicting a victim tortured by scaphism. (Image: historydefined).
To fully understand the horrors of scaphism and why it was used as a method of torture, we must travel back to ancient Persia, where scaphism first appeared.
The origins of scaphism may trace back to the 5th century BC. This was a time when humanity invented new forms of torture akin to the advanced technological devices of today.
Although scaphism is primarily associated with Persian customs, similar forms of torture have been practiced by other ancient civilizations. The techniques and instruments used to restrain victims may vary. However, the acts of trapping victims and forcing them to endure prolonged suffering from insects and animal bites have existed for thousands of years. It seems that cultural exchange also facilitated the spread of such horrific torture techniques.
Scaphism is not merely a means of punishing individuals. This form serves a dual purpose as both a deterrent weapon and a psychological weapon.
These public executions were intended to send a chilling message about the consequences of breaking the law. Beyond the physical suffering inflicted on the condemned, the psychological impact of scaphism rippled throughout the community.
Scaphism became part of the cultural ideology, much like the death penalty today is used to deter crime.
In ancient times, public executions were spectacles that families could attend. In fact, families were encouraged to attend as a reminder of what could happen if they violated the law.
Witnessing the prolonged and painful death of those subjected to scaphism served as a stern warning. This form of torture instilled fear and anxiety within the community.
Scaphism transcends the physical to strike hard at the psychological. Knowing that death does not come immediately but is a slow, inevitable demise plunges the victim into hellish torment, exacerbating psychological trauma.
Essentially, scaphism is a strategic tool for those in power to maintain social order through fear. The deliberate cruelty of this form of torture is not only meant to punish but also to leave a lasting impression on the minds of witnesses.
This ensures that the memory of the punishment lingers to prevent future violations. The psychological scars left by scaphism can be as powerful, if not more so, than the physical torment. This makes scaphism a truly formidable weapon in the ancient arsenal of control.
Today, most barbaric torture methods have been abolished, yet the psychological and physical impacts can still be seen in modern forms of execution.
Execution methods have evolved to be more humane, but the fundamental purpose still stems from deterring criminal behavior.
Even the concept of public execution has not changed much. In the United States today, public executions still occur in the form of inviting victims’ families to observe behind a glass wall.
This publicity is reminiscent of ancient public executions. This spectacle serves not only as a means of punishment but also as a clear warning for potential criminals.
