After a lengthy search the only possibility that I found was that the masks protected the executioner from the evil stares of his victims. Anyone else know anything more?
2006-09-29 14:31:42 · 15 answers · asked by nothing_good_in_the_fridge 1 in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
The executioner was an extension of the judicial system in that they carried out the sentences issued at court. In addition to carrying out capital punishment, they were also responsible for administering punishment for lesser crimes.
Apparently impartial and unbiased executioners were hard to find. By protecting the identity of the executioner at all times, it reduced the opportunity that the communities they worked in could begin to erode the sentencing process through threats and bribes.
2006-09-29 21:53:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well (my opinion) would you want everyone in the population to know that you were Lord High Executioner? That would make for a very poor social life don't ya think?
2006-09-29 14:36:33 · answer #2 · answered by Albannach 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're right. But also it's to keep the victims' families and friends from seeking revenge-they wouldn't know who was the executioner.
2006-09-30 11:05:15 · answer #3 · answered by Strives to be Something 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There wasn't just one executioner. There were several. All hooded. By having several hooded executioners, the one who actually did the deed was protected from being killed in revenge because no one could be sure who actually killed the guy.
2006-09-29 14:35:23 · answer #4 · answered by special-chemical-x 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
So they wouldn't get blood splattered in their faces ?
So people in the crowd would not recognize them ?
To accentuate that they are being killed by the will of the govt. rather than by an individual executioner ??
And of course, evil stares is also probably true...
2006-09-29 23:47:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
So that he would be anonymous and not be blamed for doing his job. Some aristocrats who were executed actually gave the executioner a gift, maybe to encourage him to sharpen his axe.
2006-09-29 14:45:36 · answer #6 · answered by The Gadfly 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think everyone has answered your question, and maybe one more thing..
MAYBE IT WAS PART OF THE PROCESS, TO MAKE THE EXECUTION EVEN MORE FRIGHTENING,, BY WEARING THE MASK, THE POOR PERSON ABOUT TO BE KILLED, HAD TO LOOK AT A MASK, AND IT WOULD BE A HORRIBLE PERSON OR MONSTER BEHIND THE MASK,, MAYBE?? im guessing, THAT IS HOW I WOULD SEE IT IF I WERE IN THAT POSITION,,
2006-09-29 20:36:35 · answer #7 · answered by Maureen K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The executioners generally lived among the community so it gave them annominity among them and dehumanizes them.
2006-09-29 14:48:42 · answer #8 · answered by Hawaii808 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so people at the market in town wouldn't be freaked out by him or his family. It must be kinda weird when Dad's 8-5er is whacking heads...especially if it's my classmate Katie's dad that got whacked!!
2006-10-02 18:27:12 · answer #9 · answered by Sandy W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two possibilities..one is what you mentioned..the other is that their job is not a glorified one. So, they don't want to be noticed while going about their routine in between execution.
Good Luck..
2006-09-29 14:36:03 · answer #10 · answered by EagleDotCom 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋