The Pillory was used in England up until 1837 when it was abolished.
It was a form of punishment in which public humiliation was a major part.
The victims wrists and neck were held in place and it put quite a bit of strain on the person's back.
Members of the public would often throw rotten vegetables... dead animals and faeces.
Stones and other blunt objects were also thrown.
Due to the nature of the pillory restraint the victim would be unable to defend themselves.
Flogging and mutilation could be added to the punishment as well.
British authorities favoured branding the face with a mark of shame such as cutting off one or both ears or slicing the nose lengthwise.
For lessor crimes the stocks would be used where just the victims legs would be restrained allowing them to at least attempt to defend themselves with their free arms and the ability to move their head....
The use of the Pillory and the Stocks is where the saying 'A laughing stock' came from hinting at the humiliation that the victims suffered .....
2 comments:
Horrible! Thank God this kind of punishment was abolished and no longer exists!
@Duta
It is horrible as you say Duta but although it was abolished all those years ago in England I am sure that something similar still happens somewhere in our twisted world....
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