The executioner started with the hands. In medieval Europe a punishment called flaying was sometimes used for treason and rebellion. The condemned person was tied down while the executioner carefully cut the skin away from the body using a knife. The process was done slowly so the victim remained alive as long as possible. Sometimes the skin was removed piece by piece over several hours. In some cases the skin was then nailed to city gates or public buildings as a warning to others. One of the m