Sword swallowing is a performance art, in which the performer inserts a sword into his or her mouth and down the esophagus towards the stomach. The name given to this art is technically misleading, as performers have to suppress their gag reflex and not actually swallow while the sword is down their throat. Sword swallowing is an extremely dangerous life-threatening activity, and many deaths and serious medical complications have arisen from attempting the feat. Some sword swallowers are officially recognized as members of the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI). [1] Of these, only a few dozen are actively performing professional sword swallowers, with the remainder being either amateurs or injured or retired performers. This article is about Performance art. ... Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Look up Sword in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Mouth (disambiguation). ... The esophagus or oesophagus (see American and British English spelling differences), sometimes known as the gullet, is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. ... In anatomy, the stomach is a bean-shaped hollow muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the Bush song, see Swallowed (song). ... For other uses, see Death (disambiguation). ...

History of the art

Originating in India prior to 2000 BC, the deadly art of sword swallowing has a long and varied history. Its age alone can account for the many transformations through which it has gone, being perhaps one of the oldest forms of extant performance art. During its early period of development, it was used primarily as a demonstration of divine union and power.^{[citation needed]} (Redirected from 2000 BC) (21st century BC - 20th century BC - 19th century BC - other centuries) (3rd millennium BC - 2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC) Events 2064 - 1986 BC -- Twin Dynasty wars in Egypt 2000 BC -- Farmers and herders travel south from Ethiopia and settle in Kenya. ...

The migration of the art to other lands, most notably China in the 8th century, saw its transformation from divine demonstration to theatrical production. It quickly migrated to Japan, where it became a central part of the Japanese acrobatic theatre, Sangaku. This form of theatre featured an array of performance delights, including fire eating, tightrope walking, juggling and early illusion. (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... Sangaku or San Gaku (算額; lit. ... Categories: Stub | Circus skills | Sideshow attractions ... Tightrope walking is a spectacle activity usually performed for the amusement of an audience. ... Juggling is a form of skillful, often artful, object manipulation. ... For other uses, see illusion (disambiguation). ...

Simultaneous to the arts' eastern migration was a migration to the north and west, all the way to Greece and Rome. In Europe it developed into yet a third distinct type of performance associated with the medieval jongleurs, that of the street performance. For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... In its general sense, juggling can refer to all forms of artful or skillful object manipulation. ... Busking is the practice of doing live performances in public places to entertain people, usually to solicit donations and tips. ...

Sword swallowing was performed during the Middle Ages as part of street theatre and was popular at festivals and other large gatherings. However, from the founding of the Holy Inquisition in 1231, it and other forms of religious persecution slowly spread in their influence throughout Europe. Sword swallowers along with jugglers, magicians, prophets and other performers, found themselves increasingly the target of religious persecution, being condemned and executed as heretics, witches and practitioners of the dark arts. 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. ... A troupe of street theatre performers by the beach in Vancouver, Canada. ... The Inquisition was an office of the Roman Catholic Church charged with suppressing heresy. ... // Events Ardengus becomes bishop of Florence. ... Religious persecution is systematic mistreatment of an individual or group due to their religious affiliation. ... Juggling is a form of skillful, often artful, object manipulation. ... “Illusionist” redirects here. ... For other senses of this word, see Prophet (disambiguation). ... The performing arts include theater, motion pictures, drama, comedy, music, dance, opera, magic and the marching arts, such as brass bands, etc. ... For other uses, see Heresy (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Witchcraft. ... For other uses, see Occult (disambiguation). ...

Though performers reemerged following the Inquisition and enjoyed a resurgence in activity and reception, this was to be short lived. Sword swallowing once again began to die out in the mid 1800s, and was actually outlawed in Scandinavia in 1893. This was due to a declining interest in street and festival theatre and a growing interest on the part of audiences in more "organized" and "proper" theatre. // Invention of the Jacquard loom in 1801. ...

In 1819, the East Indian juggler and sword swallower Ramo Sammee became popular in the United States after a brief stint in England. He performed in the US and England until his death in London in August 1850. From 1850 to the 1890s a very small number of sword swallowers performed in the UK such as Martha Mitchell (c 1855) and Signor Benedetti (1863-95), and in the US, including Lawson Peck (c 1850s), Ling Look (c 1872), Signor Wandana (died May 9 1875), and Harry Parsons (died Dec 1880). But the best-known north American sword swallower of this time was Fred McLone, better known to the public as "Chevalier Cliquot", who performed from 1878 to the early 1900s.

In 1893 sword swallowing was featured at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This marked the beginning of the popularity of the American practice of the art. Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... One-third scale replica of The Republic, which once stood in the great basin at the exposition, Chicago, 2004 The World Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago Worlds Fair), a Worlds fair, was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbuss discovery... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ...

Circuses and sideshows quickly became the dominant venue for sword swallowers. Traveling throughout North America and presenting their skills to the show-going public, any connection with religion or divine power was immediately lost. Sword swallowing became a stunt, and as such, it became competitive. Whereas the European practice of the art certainly saw performers attempting to swallow larger numbers of swords, there seemed to be an undue focus on the novel and bizarre in the American practice. This is certainly understandable, as there were a large number of sword swallowers at this time, and innovation was the only recourse performers had in the effort to make money, for themselves and for their employers. The term circus originates from Latin and can mean several things: A public equipped space for shows and other spectacles of the Classical period (e. ... For other uses, see Sideshow (disambiguation). ... This article is about stunt performance. ...

It is during this time that we see a growing popularity with swallowing multiple swords, longer swords, hot swords, bayonets recoiled down the throat, glowing neon tubes and so forth. It seems that the interest in the art had never been so great, and the variations upon it never so clever. In fact, one could often find sword swallowers on the same bill as the magic greats such as Houdini, clearly indicating their appeal. For other uses, see bayonet (disambiguation). ... Neon signs are often used to advertise for hotels, bars and entertainment venues. ... Harry Houdini (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926), born Ehrich Weiss, was a Hungarian/American magician, escapologist, stunt performer, as well as an investigator of spiritualists, and amateur aviator. ...

Western Europe and England also saw during this period an upsurge in sword swallowing interest, with many many cross-Atlantic influences. A current understanding of Western Europe. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

It was during the late 19th and early 20th centuries that traveling magic shows from the Orient toured Europe and America, bringing some unique twists on standard effects, some entirely new effects (the secrets of which were lusted after by American magicians), and of course sword swallowing, along with their traditional fire eating, juggling and acrobatic feats. Categories: Stub | Circus skills | Sideshow attractions ... Juggling is a form of skillful, often artful, object manipulation. ... High wire act Acrobatics (from Greek Akros, high and bat, walking) is one of the performing arts, and is also practiced as a sport. ...

At around the middle of the 20th century, circuses, and sideshows in particular, began to fall by the wayside. Today there remains only one full-time sideshow in the world, the Coney Island Sideshows by the Seashore, in New York City. Some attribute the decline of the sideshow to the increased interest in and decreased cost of mechanical circus and carnival rides. Many skills typically associated with the circus or sideshows have been appropriated by individual performers and incorporated into their acts. This has fueled a revival in many of these arts. Sword swallowing, like many has seen such an interest and growth. Among contemporary sword swallowers are Red Stuart, David Straitjacket, Johnny Fox, and The Space Cowboy. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... For other uses, see Sideshow (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Coney Island (disambiguation). ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... For other uses, see Circus (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Carnival (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Johnny Fox Johnny Fox (born 1953) is a professional sword swallower and sleight of hand expert. ...

The most celebrated and popular sword swallower of our time is a young gentleman named Patrick Oruska. In a recent interview with a local magazine, Patrick tells them that he got started swallowing swords at an early age, practicing with hot dogs and popsicles. Eventually, he worked up enough courage to try a sword at the age of 16 and it went down with ease. All of his friends thought he was crazy but Patrick knew sword swallowing could lead to a lucrative career. These days, Patrick performs at a few side shows per year at a place referred to as Studio™ to show of his sword swallowing abilities, getting down as many as three swords at once.

References

• Brian Witcombe, Dan Meyer: Sword swallowing and its side effects, British Medical Journal, 2006, 333, 1285-1287 (23 December)

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) is a medical journal published weekly in the United Kingdom by the British Medical Association (BMA)which published its first issue in 1845. ...

External links

• Sword Swallowers Association International
• Sword Swallowing to the Hilt
• World Almanac
• How Sword Swallowing Works
• The Straight Dope on sword swallowing