HISTORY QUESTION #3308
The guillotine was first placed in front of the Tuileries on Place du Carrousel in August 1792. How many people has it since 'helped' decapitate in France?
4,600
Explanation
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out executions by decapitation. It has been known since the Middle Ages and went under the name 'Scottish Maiden' in Scotland. The current name is attributed to the French physician Joseph Ignace Guillotin who suggested the device to spare the victims of the French Revolution of poorly performed manual beheadings. During the revolution the guillotine was placed in front of the Tuileries on Place du Carrousel in august 1792. Since then, some 4,600 people have been decapitated in France, the last on 10 September 1977.
Statistics
Answer time 0s (0s). 38% have previously answered correct on this question. The question was created 2009-01-06.