October 2, 2018 ▸ History, War & Conflict

Episode 335: Devices of Death: Instruments of Execution

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On this grisly episode of The Sofa King Podcast, we talk about devices of death, all the inventions that are used for capital punishment from the ancient world until now. Every society since the most ancient days of China have killed criminals for the worse offenses, and the means vary from “humane” to absolutely brutal.

The 7th Century BC Draconian Code of Athens made death the penalty for every crime anyone ever committed! Also, people like the mad emperor Nero would burn bodies at the stake and use the fire for light at this parties. From classic devices of death such as Iron Maidens to force feeding people milk and honey until their own fecal matter makes bugs live in their skin, this episode has you covered.

We talk a lot about the modern methods used for killing killers here in the U.S. Hanging, of course, ties back to our cowboy days and is still used in some prisons to this day. However, it’s not as easy as it seems. Too long of a drop, and the rope rips the person’s head off. Too short, and they slowly suffocate for 45 agonizing minutes.

That evolved to the electric chair in 1890, but again, not without perils. Sometimes, the wiring was done wrong, or the people had to get zapped time after time. They would light on fire, and a sponge that was too wet or dry would mess up the connection. Then technology got “better.” We moved to firing squads, gas chambers, and finally lethal injection.

So what is the problem with lethal injection drugs, and why do so many states have to turn to alternative methods of killing? Why was it important to have a good executioner in the past? Which killing technique has never had a botched attempt in the past 120 years? Which devices of death caused the most problems? Who watches the executions, and who performs them? Listen, laugh, learn.

Good Site On Info: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/descriptions-execution-methods