A dying profession

At one time Kosice was large enough and important enough to have a resdant executioner. The role of executioner was an hereditary post and it was held by one family. It was kind of like a hereditary guild position and apparently it wasn’t all sword play and wearing cool gothic clothing, they also had to study much of the same things, about the human body, as doctors do today. Where crowds used to gather for the executiones there are still bleachers for public performances. Today the executioner’s house is home to a natural science exhibition where you can see the various tools of the executioner’s trade. Archaeological explorations at the location of the executioners residence in Kosice unexpectedly revealed a shoemaker’s workshop dating back to the 15th century. Considering that shoes of the Gothic and medieval period were narrow and pointy, it reinforced my suspicion that only someone with an executioner’s sadistic tendencies could have been involved in the creation of women’s fashion and shoes.