Why was sewing up in a bag considered one of the worst punishments in the history of mankind?

Imagine being stuffed inside a bag with venomous snakes and ferocious beasts and then tossed into the sea to drown. That was the fate of those who committed a certain heinous crime in ancient times. This brutal punishment was called Poena cullei and it's one of the most horrifying forms of execution ever devised. Want to know what crime could warrant such a cruel death? Read today's amazing narrative and find out! 👀💀🩸

• In the annals of history, there are accounts that delve into the dark and gruesome aspects of human behavior. One such story dates back several centuries, recounting a tragic event where a young American man, under the influence of ecstasy, committed a horrific act. Consumed by an unimaginable rage, he mercilessly beat his parents to death with a hammer. Astonishingly, he then brazenly took to social media, inviting friends to a party, oblivious to the fact that they were celebrating alongside a cold-blooded murderer.
• This unforgivable and heinous crime has always been met with severe consequences. Throughout history, societies developed various punishments to deal with such acts, particularly when it involved the killing of one's own parents. The term 'parricide' was coined to describe this act, distinguishing between patricide (when the father is killed) and matricide (when the mother is killed). Furthermore, parricide extended to include the killing of close relatives, such as siblings or uncles.
• Looking back to ancient Rome, we find one of the earliest known cases of such punishment. Publicius Malleolus, who had committed the unthinkable by killing his mother, became the first person to suffer the punishment known as 'poena cullei.' This penalty involved being sewn into a sack and thrown into the sea. The sack would often contain a mixture of creatures, including a dog, a rooster, a snake, and even a monkey. The terror of this punishment extended beyond the drowning aspect, as the condemned would face the additional horrors of venomous bites, savage animal companions, and a grotesque struggle for survival.
• Over time, the penalty of the sack took on even more macabre forms. Accounts mention apes being added to the sack, amplifying the terror and potential harm to the condemned. The Romans believed that the punishment's exceptional cruelty lay not only in the imminent threat of drowning but also in the undignified and torturous journey leading up to it. In the 3rd century, Roman jurist Modestinus described the details of the punishment, emphasizing the flogging, the sack with its deadly contents, and the eventual disposal in the depths of the sea.
• As history progressed, the practice of poena cullei started to decline. Harsher forms of punishment, such as being thrown to wild animals or burned alive, gradually replaced the sack. However, it experienced a brief revival during the reign of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, with variations in the specifics of the punishment.
• Beyond Rome, in 14th-century Germany, poena cullei resurfaced as a dreaded punishment reserved exclusively for parricide. In contrast to the Roman version, the German iteration featured a relatively milder approach. The sack no longer included live animals, with symbolic representations, such as pictures or even compartmentalized sections, taking their place. The use of linen sacks allowed for swift water penetration, heightening the risk of drowning.
• Recorded cases of this punishment in Germany during the 18th century demonstrate further alterations. In some instances, animals like sheep were placed in the sack, replacing the more menacing creatures of Roman times. A non-venomous snake, while still unsettling, accompanied another unfortunate soul on their final journey.
• These accounts of poena cullei serve as a chilling reminder of the extreme measures societies have historically taken to deter and punish the abhorrent act of parricide. While today's justice systems have evolved to employ different methods, exploring these historical punishments offers a glimpse into the severity with which societies addressed such unthinkable crimes.

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