Gossip, backbiting or backbiting is often spread even though the facts are not yet known. Gossip is often the trigger for big problems that arise.
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Just like today's hoax spreaders who are sentenced to severe punishment. In recorded history, ancient gossips were also sentenced to excruciating punishments to pay for their actions.
These penalties are applied in many countries. The effects vary, from embarrassment, physical and mental torture, to death.
1. Scold's Bridle
According to records, this punishment was first used in Scotland in 1567. The Scold bridle was mental and physical torture, one of the purposes of which was to publicly humiliate the perpetrator.
The shape is in the form of an iron plate designed to be installed on the head. On one side there is an object that is inserted into the mouth and pressed down on the tongue. One side of the Scold's bridle was often equipped with a spike that could injure the wearer's mouth when he spoke.
The pain caused by parts of these punishment tools often causes permanent injury both physically and mentally, and traumatizes those who are subjected to this punishment.
2. The Wooden Horse
This tool is said to be one of the most painful tortures for criminals. Wooden Horses were used during the American colonial period, namely in the Middle Ages.
A wooden horse is shaped like a block of wood with a pointed end. The wooden horse punishment is usually carried out on those who commit major crimes. One of them can be sent to women who are caught gossiping or spreading false stories.
The woman undergoing this punishment was ordered to take off all her clothes and sit on a sharpened wooden block. Both legs are attached with iron which makes the convict's body weight supported by the groin. Clinging to the weight, the punished woman's body slowly lowered despite her struggle. While the sharp tip of the wooden block slowly tore through his body.
Not only that, the woman undergoing this punishment would also be whipped from behind, causing her to feel excruciating pain before dying.