The Middle Ages (93) : Witch

This series is an attempt to illustrate how life was going on in the Middle Ages.

In those dark times, it was generally believed that a witch was a woman who practiced sorcery and devil-worship.
Usually, however, it was an innocent woman, randomly chosen by the clergy.

The persecution of these so called witches was widespread.
Witchcraft was considered a crime against christianity and lots of innocent women have suffered and died from brutal tortures……under approval of the Pope !

A convicted woman was either burned alive at the stake or beheaded.

Photographed at medieval festival of castle Franchimont (Belgium)

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Of course, my picture is a sterotype presentation of a witch, like we know from fairy tales in which she is commonly portrayed as a wicked dirty woman with long claw-like fingernails who could fly on brooms.
In reality however, every woman could be accused from witchcraft.