The Origins Of Witchcraft Are Even Stranger Than We Thought

Pricking with needles; dunking in water; unspeakable torture; and execution. These were the terrible fates of many women — and some men — who faced accusations of witchcraft. Especially during the 16th and 17th centuries, a wave of frenzied witch-hunting swept across Europe and the American colonies. Read on to find out about some of the darker episodes in the story of witches and witchcraft through the ages...

No due process

Suspected witches had to be put on trial, but one thing they were unlikely to get was anything resembling due process. One stark example of this — seen at the Salem trials — was the use of what was called “spectral evidence.” This meant that an alleged victim of witchcraft could accuse their tormentor of having only appeared in a dream or as a ghostly presence. Of course, that meant those accused of witchcraft didn’t even have to be present at a crime scene to be guilty.  

Persecuting the weak

The Salem witch persecutions started in 1692 when two young girls began to experience severe fits. To some observers of the time, this was a sure sign that they were victims of witchcraft. That, of course, meant that the witches had to be hunted down. In this particular case the accused were a penniless old lady, a homeless woman and a slave. You’ll notice they were all from the lowest ranks of society.

Things got out of hand

During the Salem witch trials, as many as 200 people were accused of witchcraft. Of those unfortunates, the unluckiest were the 20 who were actually put to death. It seemed as if there was a wicked witch waiting to pounce — or cast a spell — around every corner. Salem’s governor finally put an end to the hysteria when his own wife was accused.

Mass meowing

 Witchcraft is weird enough in itself, but how about an outbreak of what was described as mass meowing? This allegedly happened at a convent in France sometime during the Middle Ages. It apparently started with just one nun mewing, but she was soon joined by all the sisters. This was especially sinister because cats are often associated with witches. Troops were called in and they beat the nuns mercilessly until the offending noises stopped.