A historical study of the paraphenalia of punishment and restraint

Human history is filled with examples of inhumanity, of the sufferings and indignities which individuals have inflicted upon others. Whilst warfare and greed may have brought about the most deaths, it may be that the greatest suffering has arisen from casues which were seen as pro-social, such as education, religion, and law and order, when those in authority sought to discipline and punish their neighbours, their families, and those who may have held a different view of religion.

This blog is intended to stir the conscience of the reader towards a greater awareness of the evil ingenuity with which man has sought to hurt those he could control.

Sunday, 12 June 2011

Upright Positioning

We have all heard the old expression "there isn't room to swing a cat".   Whips and long straps need room to be swung.  If over a certain length then they must be swung  horizontally in oredr to avois hitting the roof !  That being the case the recipient needs to be secured in an upright position. Virtually any form of corporal punishment can be delivered with the victim standing up (apart from beating the soles of the feet).

The simplest arrangement was to suspend the victim from a tree or tie him or her to a whipping post, a system used from Roman times until the machine age.
Posted by at 12:30

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)