Scaphism

Scaphism, also known as the boats, is an ancient Persian method of execution designed to inflict torturous death. The name comes from the Greek word skaphe, meaning "scooped out".

The naked victim would be firmly fastened within a back-to-back pair of narrow rowboats (or in some variations a hollowed out tree trunk), the head, hands, and feet protruding from this improvised container.

The victim was forced to ingest milk and honey to the point of developing severe diarrhea, and more honey would be rubbed on his body so as to attract insects to the exposed appendages. He would then be left to float on a stagnant pond (or alternately, simply exposed to the sun somewhere). The diarrhoea accumulated within the container, attracting more insects, which would eat and breed within the defenseless victim's exposed (and increasingly gangrenous) flesh. Death, when it eventually occurred, probably was due to a combination of dehydration, starvation and septic shock.

In other recorded versions, the insects did not eat the victim; biting and stinging insects such as wasps, which were attracted by honey on the body, acted as the torture.

Death by scaphism is painful, humiliating, and protracted. Historical records suggest that one Mithridates, sentenced to die in this manner for a perceived insult to the King of kings, survived for 17 days before expiring.

• If it really existed, the the Chinese box may well be historically related to scapishm, but no proof seems extant,at least not for those who will not condescend to read Richard Sair's (often catalogued as Arnold Hirsch's) "Book of Torture and Executions" (Toronto: Golden Books, 1944).

• Simpler installations to the same end have been reported among Amerind tribes, such as immobilizing the victim, smearing him and leaving him to voracious ants; in the desert a victim just tied up was already likely to have eyes and flesh picked out by vultures. Without the oriental forcefeeding starvation would set in within a few days.