The Latin translates to “the word became flesh,” which is pretty damn metal to put on a sword used for decapitation.
Edit: I just noticed that the inscription reads et verbum caro facum est instead of et verbum caro factum est. Not sure if this was a mistake or abbreviation, but I think the actual inscription would read “the word burns flesh”?
I’m basically Brian from the Latin lesson scene in the Life of Brian, so if anyone has an actual grasp of Latin grammar, please correct me.
Romanes eunt domus!
I don’t know much about Latin but Verbum is another word for God.
Yeah, this phrase specifically deals with the incarnation of Christ and it’s typically capitalized in English as “the Word.”
I wondered if the prisoner’s stance in the engraving was normal for a sword execution, it seemed like it would be more efficient for everyone to place your neck on a backstop like the chained log. With the backstop you wouldn’t have to worry about your flopping body absorbing any of the executioner’s swing energy.
So to wikipedia I went, and based on the images in that article both of the prisoners are shown either standing or kneeling rather than resting their necks on a backstop. Ouch.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Scharfrichterschwert-ffm002.jpg
The french form of beheading was to have them kneel upright during a beheading instead of putting their neck on a block.
It’s how Anne Boleyn was decapitated by the swordsman from Calais.
I once saw a video of an execution in Saudi Arabia, the prisoners were just kneeling with their heads bowed a little.
interesting how it’s only meant to behead (I suppose). there’s no pointy end, like a big butter knife
Would it be worthwhile to run a q-tip through the engraved parts and collect DNA? Just for science?
Are you Rick Sanchez gathering a team for a high profile heist?
You son of a bitch, I’m in.
Terminus Est
congrats on graduating beheading school, son ! we bought you a cool sword as a present
Beheading school like:
One of my favorite stories about executioners is the French executioner Capeluche training the man who was assigned to kill HIM so he’d get it right. One clean chop - it would be terrible to have a botched execution where you linger in agony while some amateur hacks at your half-severed neck!
