1. Burning: Perhaps the most well-known punishment was burning at the stake. Accused witches would be tied to a stake and set on fire, often resulting in their death.
2. Hanging: Hanging was another common method of execution for individuals convicted of witchcraft. They would be suspended from a rope until they died.
3. Drowning: In certain regions, accused witches were subjected to water ordeals. They would be tied up and thrown into a body of water. If they sank and didn't resurface, they were considered innocent, while floating indicated guilt. This practice was believed to be a way of determining innocence based on the idea that water would repel witches.
4. Stoning: In some instances, individuals accused of witchcraft faced public stoning. They would be pelted with rocks and stones by a crowd until death.
5. Torture: Torture was frequently employed to extract confessions from accused witches or to elicit information about their supposed involvement in witchcraft. Various forms of torture included using instruments such as thumbscrews, racks, and iron maidens to inflict pain.
6. Banishment and Social Isolation: In some cases, accused witches were not physically punished but instead faced social consequences. They might be banished from their communities, shunned, or made to wear distinctive clothing to mark them as witches.
It's crucial to recognize that the persecution of individuals for witchcraft was often based on fear, superstition, and false beliefs rather than any legitimate evidence or understanding of natural phenomena. These forms of punishment were rooted in a lack of scientific knowledge and the influence of religious and cultural biases that perpetuated the belief in witchcraft.