Legal Definitions - alfet

Definition: A historical cauldron filled with boiling water used to scald the arm of a person undergoing an ordeal. This was a primitive form of trial in which an accused person was subjected to a dangerous or painful physical test, and the result was considered a divine revelation of the person's guilt or innocence.

Example: In the ordeal by water, the accused person was submerged in cold water, and if they floated, they were considered guilty because floating revealed the water's rejection of the person. This type of ordeal was used especially in witchcraft trials.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the accused person was subjected to a dangerous physical test, and the result was considered a divine revelation of their guilt or innocence. The use of the cauldron filled with boiling water was a way to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused person, and the result was believed to be a sign from God. The use of ordeals was common in Europe until the 13th century, and it was believed that God would reveal a person's culpability by protecting an innocent person from some or all consequences of the ordeal.