Lore Legends 27: Scapegoats
May 13, 2024
Explore the dark histories of witch hunts in Europe and colonial America, highlighting the tragedies faced by unjustly accused women. Witness the supernatural scapegoating and tragic consequences in a cursed town. Unveil the harrowing story of Eunius, a victim of the witch-hunt hysteria in Bamberg, shedding light on the horrors of the Witch trials.
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Why We Create Scapegoats
- Humans invent explanations to reduce chaos and restore control when faced with unpredictable events.
- Blaming outsiders or perceived rule-breakers becomes a social shortcut for making sense of misfortune.
Witch Hunts Flourished During Upheaval
- The witch hunts intensified during social upheaval as institutions sought enemies to rally against.
- Texts like the Malleus Maleficorum institutionalized identification and torture methods that fueled mass persecution.
The Trial Of Mammy Red
- Wilmot "Mammy" Red was an outspoken, poor butter-seller accused of cursing food and harming children in Marblehead.
- She was convicted in 1692 after a 'touch test' and hanged at Gallows Hill, her grave left unmarked.