In all accounts of 17th-century witchcraft trials in Europe and North America, physical features alone were considered undeniable evidence of witchcraft. It was believed that the devil marked the bodies of witches with symbolic, material signs – comparable to unusual growths or blemishes. This led to a routine body inspection in witch trials. The discovery of such marks was considered strong medical and scientific evidence of witchcraft and sometimes sealed the victim’s fate.
Here are just a few of the anatomical features that have historically been used to discover someone as a witch:
Are you a lady?
While men were sometimes accused of witchcraft, historical witch hunts overwhelmingly targeted at women – especially women who led an independent lifestyle (e.g. widows and spinsters) or who were open and didn’t conform to social norms. Historians estimate so over 75% of the accused witchcraft in the sixteenth and 17th centuries were women.
Religious teachings at the time reinforced the idea that women were morally weaker and that is why more prone to temptation and sin.
By this standard, if you happen to discover as a lady today, you might be one of roughly 3.95 billion potential “witches.”
How old are you?
Age was one other factor in the witch trials. Older womenespecially those past childbearing age often suspected of witchcraft – especially if she was a widow, owned property or lived alone.
Records suggest that over half of those accused of witchcraft in Scotland between 1563 and 1736 were so over 40 years. At that time, the average life expectancy was approx 32 years old.
Currently, there are roughly 1.4 billion women throughout the world over 40by historical standards, many more could have come under similar suspicion.
Do you may have an additional nipple?
The “witch’s pacifier” was a typical feature that witch hunters used to discover someone as a witch. This extra nipple was believed to be utilized by witches to feed their so-called demonic familiars – it was often imagined to be small animals or pixies. Witch hunters would examine the chest or torso for any abnormalities and classify it as a witch’s nipple.
In fact extra nipples (or polythelia) are mild. They form during early embryonic development and in some people don’t disappear completely.
Another feature sometimes confused with an additional nipple was the clitoris. Historical records suggest that women were sometimes convicted based on the size of this body part. Often mentioned in pamphlets of the time, describing the process of identifying the “witch’s nipple”. little performance situated near a lady’s “foundation” or “private place” – euphemisms for female genitalia.
It is estimated that about 5% of the world’s population has no less than one extra nipple. They appear more often on the left side of the chest and are more common in men. Harry Styles, who spoke openly about ownership 4 nipplesperhaps in the 17th century he would have been much less inclined to share these details about himself.
Do you may have a birthmark?
In the 17th century, any type of mole or skin discoloration might be called a “devil’s mark”. Matthew Hopkins, the infamous “Witchfinder General,” wondered some unusual placea freckle or birthmark is an indication of a pact with the devil. Witch hunters often pricked these marks with pins, believing that the mark of a real devil wouldn’t bleed or cause pain.
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About 80% of people today they’re born with some form of birthmark – making it a surprisingly common trait of so-called witches.
Pigmented moles, comparable to moles or cafe au lait spots (flat, light moles), are brought on by clusters of pigment cells that are created during development. Vascular types, comparable to port wine stains (that are flat and red or purple in color), result from deformation of tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin. Port wine spots appear in only about 0.3% of children – but they do exist it occurs twice as often in girls.
Do you may have moles or moles in your skin?
Where possible, moles and skin tags were also observed traces of the devil. Witch hunters also tested moles by attempting to cut or puncture them. As with moles, in the event that they didn’t bleed, it meant the person was bleeding considered a witch.
Today we all know that moles are only there clusters of pigment cellswhile skin tags are small, harmless growths that form when the skin rubs against itself. However, in the 17th century, these innocent signs spelled disaster.
Do you may have an additional digit?
Polydactyly, or an additional toe or finger, is one other rare but suspicious condition. The extra digit was seen as a supernatural aberration – supposedly increasing the witch’s power “gift” from the devil.
In fact, polydactyly is a harmless genetic mutation – affecting approx one in 500-1000 births. But in the past, this rare trait made those that had it take notice of it witch-hunting associations.
Do you may have red hair?
Red hair, an unusual feature, was considered ominous in some regions – especially Europe. Some theories suggest that red hair is rare and related to a fiery temperament or pagan origins contributed to its stigmatization. The famous Malleus Maleficarum (“The Hammer of Witches”), a treatise on witchcraft from 1468, people warned against redheads as potential witcheslinking them to “tempting powers” and “wild spirits”.
Today, lower than 2% of the world’s population has red hair – although about 6% of people have the genetics of red hair. However, in the 17th century, this unusual feature could have increased suspicions that someone was a witch.
So you might be a witch?
If you did not have any of these traits, you’ll probably be protected from the witch hunters of early modern times. However, if you happen to had a number of of these anatomical features, you could have been suspected.
Fortunately, all the British witchcraft laws were in place repealed in 1951 – which suggests that these common features are actually just anatomical quirks and nothing more.