Real Historical Punishments 1-3

Series blurb:
A history of the bondage and corporal punishment of females, using only incidents where a name and approximate date are known. I'm doing them in chronological order, covering from the first century to 1907.

Here on my blog, I'm using versions with Oil Painting effect, which you will see if you expand the pictures. To see full size originals in sharp clarity (but less style) go to kajiragames.deviantART.com.

[Notes: (1) Some licence is taken with the positioning and state of dress of the victim, as this is usually unknown. (2) Most quotes in this series are from "Encyclopedia of Cruelty", Felicity Press, Islington Australia, 1995.]

Real Punishments - c60AD St Martina

In the 1st century AD, Saint Martina was stripped and beaten for refusing to renounce Christianity. When she was sent to the arena she was clearly served up to the lions nude, because according to the church writers: "her arms are crossed on her chest, and a blush of modesty has crimsoned her cheek, as she knows the rude crowd is gazing on her." But Martina was not to be eaten that day - the lions only licked her feet.

Said the lion to the lioness "I'm sick of Christians, they're either sour or completely bland."


Real Punishments - 61AD Boadicea

Queen Boudika (to give her name correctly) was chief of the Iceni tribe of Celts in the north of Britain. She had got on well with the local Roman garrison for years. Then in 61AD, a new Roman governor named Paulinus Suetonius arrived, and thought she was too snotty. He would show her who was in charge here. He had her stripped naked in front of her people and flogged. Meanwhile, the soldiers had their way with her two daughters (over 18).

She responded by raising a Celtic revolt that killed Suetonius and all his garrison. Nero had to send a whole new legion to put them down. Hell hath no fury...


Real Punishments - 1115 Héloise

Fulbert, uncle of Héloise, committed the care of his niece to famous scholar Peter Abelard, and gave him full liberty to chastise her whenever she was negligent or obstinate. The custom of the day led Abelard to use the rod on his beautiful pupil's bare bottom. She submitted to it so willingly that he wrote in his diary "not schoolmaster’s indignation, but love, often moved me from time to time to administer correction".