Legal Definitions - furca et fossa

furca et fossa

Furca et fossa was a phrase used in ancient grants of criminal jurisdiction for punishing felons. It means "gallows and pit." Men were hanged on the gallows, while women were drowned in the pit.

An example of furca et fossa being used in practice is in the medieval English legal system. If a woman was found guilty of murder, she would be drowned in a pit. If a man was found guilty of murder, he would be hanged on the gallows.

Another example is in the ancient Roman legal system. The punishment for parricide (killing one's parents) was furca et fossa. The guilty party would be beaten with rods, then tied to a stake and left to die of hunger and thirst.

These examples illustrate how furca et fossa was used as a form of capital punishment in different legal systems throughout history.