Stake
Abstract: A Forensic View on Impaling

From a forensic point of view, impaling in quite an unusual method of killing. As much as crucification, it might be intended to kill fast, or to kill slowly to torture the victim. In both cases, the executioner would need special knowledge about the means of using the killing method of his, i.e., his leader's, choice.
For example, it is unlikely that regular soldiers would be able to impale persons without some training and advice, especially when it comes to impaling on thick wooden stakes, or poles, as frequently seen in more recent vampire movies but also in old woodcuts.

To illustrate the different causes of death that can be observed after impaling injuries, we present some forensic cases where impaling did, or did not lead to death, either voluntary or unvoluntary. We will also mention modern impalers, and their method of work. Finally, the question of how impaling must have been performed at Vlad's time is addressed.

 

 

In this instance, your body's own weight will cause further impalement, until at last the spike's tip exits the body. Commonly shown are visions where the pole will exit through a victims mouth, but due to the precision of such a feat, it is more like ly that this will not be the case with you. You can expect for the exit puncture to be around your shoulder, as is most common. Depending upon the entry angle, and the movement of your body after the spike is erected, however, it is not unlikely that it will exit through the abdomen. Because of the resulting muscle contractions, the tip will enter your body again through the chest, piercing your heart or lungs.

More about impaling
From a forensic point of view, impaling in quite an unusual method of killing. As much as crucification, it might be intended to kill fast (not the best idea), or to kill slowly to torture the victim. It also seems to be a method of choice when it comes to killing of large numbers of people on a restricted area.

One of the most popular forms of mass execution, for many can be performed and displayed in a small area due to its vertical nature. It will consist of a long spike, either wood or iron, being inserted into your anus. It will then either be forced in further by method of rope and pulley, or by having the spike tilted to an upright state.

If you have survived for this long, you can know peace that it will not last much longer.

An obvious implication of impaling enemies is that this will show resoluteness, cruelty, and ruthlessnes of the person applying the method, most likely a military leader. Impaling might as well cause unnecessary pain which was frequently not intended, not even in past centuries. E.g., professional executioners did in many cases kill convicted persons either very fast (by sword, hanging, etc.; this was considered to be "fair"), or by using a symbolic method of killing (e.g., pyre, breaking people on the wheel) whilst in fact killing the convicted

person immediately before in a comparably more human manner, usually by manual strangulation (the audience would not realize this). Impaling was also an improper method for torture in European juridical proceedings since a basic concept of torture was to promise partial or even complete relief from bodily pain after a confession. Any form of proper impaling, however, would cause massive damage to the intestines that in earlier times would definitely have lead to death due to inner bleeding, or due to an massive infection with bacteria. This explains why impaling is recorded nearly nowhere as a "regular" killing or torture method since

medieval times in central and northern Europe.

Impaling of vampires as we know it from the movies (stake through heart method) works quite different from the ancient war impaling routine and has a more symbolic meaning: The heart was (and sometimes still is) considered to be the source of life, also in the spiritual sense. This, by the way, is another clue that the association of Vlad the Impaler with the whole vampire biz is imagination: If there was a connection, one might feel that proper impaling through the anus should have made it to Hollywood.

-=EnD=-