Scaphism


Scaphism, also known as the boats, is reported by Plutarch in his Life of Artaxerxes, citing Ctesias, as an ancient Persian method of execution. He describes the victim being trapped between two small boats, one inverted on top of the other, with limbs and head sticking out, feeding them and smearing them with milk and honey, and allowing them to fester and be devoured by insects and other vermin over time.
Like other related acts described by Ctesias, the use of this method is historically doubted.

Historical descriptions

The first mention of scaphism is Plutarch's description of the execution of the soldier Mithridates, given as punishment by king Artaxerxes II for taking the king’s valor and claiming to be the one who killed his brother Cyrus the Younger, who had rebelled in an attempt to claim the throne of the Achaemenid Empire:
The 12th-century Byzantine chronicler Joannes Zonaras later described the punishment, based on Plutarch:
It is believed that Plutarch's account of Scaphism came from Ctesias, a Greek physician and historian. However, Ctesias's credibility is questionable due to his reputation for fanciful and exaggerated narratives. His uncorroborated accounts have stirred debates about the veracity of his work.

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