Miscellaneous History - Witch

Vaudois, Waldenses and the Witchcraft Accusations of the Alps The Vaudois region of the Alps became one of the most important centres of medieval religious dissent in the 12th century. It was

During the height of the witch-hunts, a period between the mid-14th and mid-17th centuries, the cruelest, most savage torture was used against accused witches in order to make them confess and name

Pentacle Quest A nearly 10-year effort by Witchcraft and Pagan organizations and families to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to allow Pentacles to be placed on the grave markers

Scandinavia experienced significantly less witch-hunting than did the lands of the German Empire immediately to its south. As elsewhere in Europe, belief in harmful sorcery was widespread in the Scandinavian countries— Denmark,

Witchcraft was not a significant problem, and witch-hunts were extremely rare, throughout almost all of the European colonies in the New World. The major exception occurred in the British colonies in New

The Basque lands comprise a small region in southwestern France and northern Spain, lying on either side of the Pyrenees. They were the scene of some of the most intense witch-hunting in

Macbeth Shakespeare’s play about intrigue and murder in the royal court of Scotland is one of the most influential literary works in establishing the stereotype of witches as evil, ugly hAgs. The

Salem “Old Witch” Jail The jail that housed the accused Salem Witches during the witch hysteria of 1692–93 was a cold, foul, rat-infested dungeon located near the North river. It was used

eye-biters During the reign of queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603), an epidemic illness spread among cattle in Ireland which rendered them blind. Witches were accused of causing the blindness by malevolent spells. Many

Gallows Hill The execution site of those condemned as witches in the infamous witch trails in Salem, Massachusetts. Gallows Hill has been believed to be haunted ever since the trials in 1692-93.