NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Impalement

Impalement is a method of torture and execution whereby a person is pierced with a long stake. The penetration can be through the sides, from the rectum, or through the mouth. This method would lead to rapid, painful, death. The stake would usually be planted in the ground, leaving the impaled person hanging to die. Categories: Stub | Death penalty | Torture ... Vlad III at Impalement The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Vlad III at Impalement The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... A woodcut is a method of printing in which an image is carved into the surface of a piece of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with chisels. ... Portrait of Vlad III in the Innsbruck Ambras Castle Vlad III Basarab (other names: Vlad Å¢epeÅŸ IPA: in Romanian, meaning Vlad the Impaler; Vlad Draculea in Romanian, transliterated as Vlad Dracula in some documents; KazÄ±klÄ± Bey in Turkish, meaning Impaler Prince), (November or December, 1431 â€“ December 1476). ... For other uses, see Torture (disambiguation). ... Look up Stake in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The rectum (from the Latin rectum intestinum, meaning straight intestine) is the final straight portion of the large intestine in some mammals, and the gut in others, terminating in the anus. ... For other uses, see Mouth (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Death (disambiguation), Dead (disambiguation), Death (band) or Deceased (band). ...

In some forms of impalement, the stake would be inserted so as to avoid immediate death, and would function as a plug to prevent blood loss — thus extending the person's agony for as many as three days^{[citation needed]}. After suitable preparation of the victim, including public torture and rape, the victim was stripped and an incision was made in the groin between the genitals and rectum. A stout pole with a blunt end was inserted. The blunt end would push vital organs to the side where a sharp end would pierce them, hastening death. A conveniently suitable branch was often used.

The pole would often come out of the body at the top of the sternum and be placed against lower jaw so that the victim would not slide further down the pole. Often, the victim was hoisted into the air after partial impalement. Gravity and the victims own struggles would cause him to slide down the pole, especially if the pole were on a wagon carrying war prizes and prisoner. Death could take many days

The term impalement is also used to describe deep stabbing wounds that occur in accidents where objects are driven through the body, for example by falling onto a spike, or being driven onto one in an automobile accident. Removing these objects presents a severe surgical challenge. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (378x693, 78 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Impalement ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (378x693, 78 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Impalement ...

History

The use of impalement as a form of execution in civilizations of the Ancient Near East, such as Ancient Egypt [2], Assyria, Ancient Persia and Ancient India^{[citation needed]}, is evidenced by carvings and statues from the ancient Near East. According to Ancient Greek historian Herodotus (3.159), Darius I impaled 3,000 Babylonians when he took Babylon: their execution is also recorded in the Behistun inscription. In ancient Rome, the term "crucifixion" could also refer to impalement. Ancient authors also report the use of "crucifixion" (which may have meant impalement as well) in Carthage, where it was used for extreme cases of treachery and failure on the battlefield, usually combined with other forms of torture. Overview map of the Ancient Near East The term Ancient Near East or Ancient Orient encompasses the early civilizations predating Classical Antiquity in the region roughly corresponding to that described by the modern term Middle East (Egypt, Iraq, Turkey), during the time roughly spanning the Bronze Age from the rise... Khafres Pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Giza, built about 2550 BC during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom,[1] are enduring symbols of the civilization of ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was a civilization in Northeastern Africa concentrated along the middle to lower reaches of the Nile River... For other uses, see Assyria (disambiguation). ... Persia is the historical and alternative name for the state of Iran in the European languages. ... Ancient India may refer to: The ancient History of India, which generally includes the ancient history of the whole Indian subcontinent (South Asia) Indus Valley Civilization â€” during the Bronze Age Vedic period â€” the period of Vedic Sanskrit, spanning the late Bronze Age and the earlier Iron Age Mahajanapadas â€” during the... The term ancient Greece refers to the periods of Greek history in Classical Antiquity, lasting ca. ... Herodotus of Halicarnassus (Greek: HÄ“rodotos HalikarnÄsseus) was a Greek historian from Ionia who lived in the 5th century BC (ca. ... Seal of Darius I, showing the king hunting on his chariot, and the symbol of Ahuramazda Darius the Great (Pers. ... Babylonia was a state in southern Mesopotamia, in modern Iraq, combining the territories of Sumer and Akkad. ... For other uses, see Babylon (disambiguation). ... The Behistun Inscription, carved into a cliffside, gives the same text in three languages, telling the story of King Darius conquests, with the names of twenty-three provinces subject to him. ... For other uses, see Crucifixion (disambiguation). ... Roman Carthage with former military harbor Carthage (Greek: , Latin: , from the Phoenician meaning new town; Arabic: ) refers both to an ancient city in Tunisia and to the civilization that developed within the citys sphere of influence. ...

Impalement was frequently practiced in Asia and Europe throughout the Middle Ages. Vlad III Dracula, who learned the method of killing by impalement while staying in Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, as a prisoner, and Ivan the Terrible have passed into legend as major users of the method. The Mongol Horde used the method extensively. For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Portrait of Vlad III in the Innsbruck Ambras Castle Vlad III Basarab (other names: Vlad Å¢epeÅŸ IPA: in Romanian, meaning Vlad the Impaler; Vlad Draculea in Romanian, transliterated as Vlad Dracula in some documents; KazÄ±klÄ± Bey in Turkish, meaning Impaler Prince), (November or December, 1431 â€“ December 1476). ... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: , historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. ... Ottoman redirects here. ... Ivan IV (August 25, 1530–March 18, 1584) was the first ruler of Russia to assume the title of tsar. ...

From the 14th to 18th century, impalement was a traditional method of execution for high treason in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... For other uses, see Treason (disambiguation) or Traitor (disambiguation). ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

Impalement was used in Sweden during the 17th century, particularly as a death penalty for members of the resistance in the former Danish province Terra Scania (the so called "Snapphane)", where the stake was inserted between the spine and the skin of the victim. In that way, it could take four to five days before the victim died. (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Terra Scania, or Skåneland, once constituted the eastern part of the Danish kingdom. ... The Snapphane Movement was a pro-Danish guerilla organization that fought against the Swedes in the Scanian War of the 17th century. ...

The Zulu of South Africa used impalement as a form of punishment for soldiers who had failed in the execution of their duty, or who had exhibited cowardice.^[1] Languages Zulu Religions Christian, African Traditional Religion Related ethnic groups Bantu Nguni Basotho Xhosa Swazi Matabele Khoisan The Zulu (South African English and isiZulu: amaZulu) are a South African ethnic group of an estimated 17-22 million people who live mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. ...

The Araucanian chief Caupolican suffered this death as a prisoner during the Spanish colonization of Chile. The method used was to make him sit on a stake while his wife was forced to watch.^{[citation needed]} Orelie-Antoine I, King of Araucania and Patagonia. ... Caupolican was a leader of the Mapuche people of Chile, who decided to choose a supreme war leader in response to the Spanish threat. ...

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History