There has been a great deal of press coverage regarding the recent execution by firing squad in Utah recently. This brings to mind that in the United States “cruel and unusual punishment” is prohibited by law. What was the ways in which execution was handled for capital crimes in ancient times? Here is a brief summary of the ways in which society meted out in ancient times.
Stoning: World's Oldest Method
Is probably the oldest form of execution. Biblical references confirm this was practiced at the time of Jesus Christ and scripture states that he prevented this happening by asking the crowd who would participate that the one without sin should cast the first stone. The person being stoned would be partially buried and stones would be thrown. The size of the each of the stones chosen was meant to inflict pain but not to immediately cause death. In this fashion the condemned would suffer a long and agonizing death.
Boiling
In this method, the convict would be placed naked in a cauldron which contained water, oil, tar, or wax which had already reached the boiling point or was cold and heated by fire.
