Ancient Persia’s ‘Scaphism’ Is One Of The Worst Execution Methods Involving Two Hollowed-Out Boats

If you happen to be eating at the moment, I would strongly recommend that you pause before continuing to read this.

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.

The Ancient Greeks’ infamous Brazen Bull was once considered one of the most savage execution methods, but it seems that the Persians might hold the record for the most horrific execution technique.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.

This gruesome method involved two boats being placed on top of each other and nailed together to form a kind of floating coffin.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.

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The prisoner would then be force-fed large amounts of milk and honey, which was also smeared over their face to attract insects.This overfeeding would continue until the person was left lying in their own excrement.

The person being punished would be force fed milk and honey.Credits: Getty Stock Image

Insects and other vermin would then invade the person’s body through the bowel, while their exterior was simultaneously consumed by these creatures.This horrific form of torture could last for as long as 17 days.

Are you feeling a bit queasy yet? I certainly am.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.

One commenter remarked, “Prison doesn’t sound so bad anymore.”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.”

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“They didn’t call it the dark ages for nothing,” joked a third individual.Another person contributed to the conversation by saying, “I think this might be the very worst way I’ve ever heard of to die.”

Meanwhile, someone else expressed relief that cameras didn’t exist back then, as it’s something we can all agree would not be a sight anyone would want to witness.

Executions, albeit in different forms, continue to this day, and a recent execution has stirred a lot of debate and controversy.

On January 25, convict Kenneth Smith was executed using nitrogen hypoxia.This method involves the inmate breathing pure nitrogen, which deprives them of the oxygen necessary for sustaining life.

Smith was the first individual to be executed by this method.While the Attorney General of Alabama described the execution as ‘textbook,’ others have criticized it as ‘inhumane.’