Episode description
Episode description
Centuries ago, fear and superstition led to bizarre and cruel witch trials, where the accused faced impossible tests—from floating in water to being weighed against Bibles—that often sealed their grim fate.Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate
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IN THIS EPISODE: We’ve all heard of the Salem Witch Trials – but accusations of witchcraft took place everywhere, not just Massachusetts. But who were these individuals, and were they guilty of what they were convicted of and killed for? (People Killed As Witches) *** Of course, not all those charged with witchcraft died in the 1600s during the witch trial mania – some died much much later, like the 21st century. Yes, it still happens even today. (Modern Witch Killings) *** The ways witches were tested during the mass hysteria of the witch trials resulted in some bizarre and cruel ways to determine if someone was a witch. And I’d bet most all of us would be deemed witches if forced to take the tests today. (How To Test a Witch) *** But before we get into the people who were accused, the tactics used to test them or make them confess, and how many of them were killed, we’ll look at some of the misconceptions of the Salem Witch Trials that you probably think are true. (Salem Witch Trial Misconceptions)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Lead-In
00:01:18.072 = Show Open
00:03:18.930 = Salem Witch Trial Misconceptions
00:12:12.186 = People Killed As Witches
00:27:10.456 = How To Test a Witch
00:37:01.292 = Modern Witch Killings
00:49:07.677 = Show Close
00:49:50.614 = Final Thought
SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…
Episode Page at WeirdDarkness.com: https://weirddarkness.com/WouldYouBeCondemnedAsAWitch
“Witch’s Brew” poem: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/n7p3j8us
“Salem Witch Trial Misconceptions” by Tamar Altebarmakian for Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/57ah3yw5
“How To Test a Witch” by Tamar Altebarmakian for Ranker’s Witchcraft: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/34vsfs9r
“People Killed As Witches” by Laura Allan for Ranker’s History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3pejpv5c
“Modern Witch Killings” by Greg Beneven for Ranker’s History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/rafzhksz
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Originally aired: Marcy 04, 2023
TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckhpvmz