What is ordeal?

allow any innocent individual to be

harmed. While these attempts to detect
An ordeal is a severe test of character or
truth appeared to be laden by religious
endurance, trying course of experience,
beliefs, they were in fact based upon
and a medieval form of judicial trial in
practical observations both psychological
which the accused was subjected to
and physiological phenomena which play
physical tests, as carrying or walking
an important role in the truth finding
over burning objects or immersing the
processes.
hand in scalding water, the result being
considered a divine judgment of guilt or Early Methods of Detecting
innocence. It is also a term of varying Deception
meaning closely related in the Medieval
1. Red Hot Iron Ordeal- practiced on
Latin "Dei Indicum" meaning "Miraculous
the hill tribe of Rajhmal in the North
decision."
Bengal. An accused placed his tongue to
What is Trial by Ordeal? a red-hot iron nine times unless burned
sooner. If burned, he is put to death as he
The term "Trial by Ordeal" refers to the
is guilty. Not only just licking the iron but
ancient method of trial in which the
also, he is made to carry the metal into
accused was exposed to physical danger
his hands.
which was supposed to be harmless if he
was innocent. According to historians,
Trial by Combat was the earliest method
of determining truthfulness and
deception of a person or persons
suspected for the commission of an
offense. It is the resolving of an issue
through strength of arms. For example,
there are two men approach a fallen
2.Ordeal by the Balance An ordeal -
victim. each claim he did not killed it, and
practiced in the Vishnu, India. The scale
asserts to be righteous and innocent of
of balance is used where the accused is
the accusation. To prove their allegations
placed in the other end while a counter
they engage in combat. The ideal
balance is made. If he were found to be
assumption is that the truthful individual
lighter than before then he will be
will win through. However, the most
acquitted.
skilled in combat usually will become
victorious and thus made him as having 3. Ordeal By Rice Chewing - an ordeal
the rightful claim and that the loser will practiced by the Indians. It is formed with
be declared guilty and will suffer the a kind of rice called sathee, prepared
consequence thereafter. with various incantations. The person on
trial eats the rice then spits upon an
The next development in the search for
eyeful leaf. If the saliva is mixed with
truth was the so-called, "Trial by Ordeal"
blood or the corner of his mouth swell or
(Keeler 1938). It was assumed once
he trembles, he is declared then a liar.
again that God would intervene on behalf
of the innocent, that is, God would not
4. Ordeal of the Red Water -used in a
wide region of Eastern Africa. The ordeal
of the "sassy bark" or red water was used
where the accused is made to fast for
twelve hours then swallows a small
amount of rice until he is imbibed in dark
colored water. This water is actually
emetic and if the suspect ejects all the
rice, he is considered innocent;
otherwise, the accused is guilty.

5. Trial by Combat - a fight between 7. Drinking Ordeal - the accused was

the accuser and the accused, whoever given a decoction to drink by a priest - if
lost the battle will be the adjudged guilty. innocent; no harm befalls him, but if
Originated in India where an accuser guilty, will die. Practiced in Nigeria and
could hire somebody or bigger one to India.
fight the accused. After the fight the loser
8. Trial of the Eucharist - this trial is
will be adjudged as guilty of crime. It
reserved for the clergy and administered
became the legal ordeal in England
with pomp and ceremony. If the accused
during the time of "King Henry III."
was guilty, it was believed that Angel
Gabriel will descend from heaven and
prevent the accused from swallowing the
food given to him. Practiced in the
European countries.

9. Ordeal by Heat and Fire - the

accused was compelled to walk bare
footed through a fire, if he remains
unhurt then he is innocent. Practiced in
East Germany, early Scandinavian
countries and early England.

6. Trial by Torture - the accused was

put into a severe physical test. If the
accused can endure such torture, he will
be considered innocent.
 same and a tiger set loose upon them. If
both were spared, further elimination
followed. Practiced in Thailand.

13. Test of the Cross Ordeal - the

10. Ordeal of Boiling Oil or Water - accuser and accused each were made to
the accused was forced to dip his hands stand with arms crossed on their breast.
into the boiling water or oil and ask to The one who endured the longest was
pick up stone in it. If he remains unhurt deemed to have told the truth. the other,
then he is innocent. Practiced in Asian is the liar. Practiced in Europe.
Countries.

11. Ordeal of Red Hot Needle – a red

hot needle was drawn through the lips of
the accused, if innocent, no blood will be
seen flowing out. Practiced in East Africa.

12. Ordeal of the Tiger - accuser and

accused were placed together in the