Schandmaske

[cclaun]

A "hausdrache" or "House Dragon" was the German term for a scolding wife. Upon conviction for this crime she might find herself paraded through the village in an appropriate iron shame mask. The beating of the drum would draw the attention of her neighbors and call them out to witness her shame.

[cclaun]

The drum beats out a steady rhythm. Step by painful step, her bare feet bruised by the rough cobblestones. The street echoes with the laughter and jeers of her neighbors.

[cclaun]

Convicted of being swinish or pig like the Shwein Frau would be forced to wear the face of a pig, the skin cut from a slaughtered swine and stretched over her own visage. The stinking, rotting mask encases her head. She stumbles along clumsily, peering out through the eye holes. Her arms are bound behind her back. Her jeering neighbors drive her along with willow switches and bunches of brambles.

[cclaun]

She will wear this mask of shame for the entire day. Forced to wander the streets of the village, prey to packs of barking dogs and jeering children. No one will offer her shelter of protection. Her shame and humiliation will be absolute.

[cclaun]

She has the nature of a dog, perhaps a bitch in heat. Now her face is encased in the rotting flesh, cut from the head of a stray dog. Her neighbors chant "HUNDIN, HUNDIN, HUNDIN, DRECKIGE HUNDIN"

[cclaun]

She gags on the stench of the slimy rotting skin, stretched over her head. This will be a long day, Hour by hour the dog skin dries and shrinks, tighter and tighter around her head, Welding the hound like visage to her own.

[cclaun]

After a day that seemed to have no end she will be released. She will struggle to cut the clinging, rotting leather of the mask from her face. Then perhaps to scrub the filthy slime from her cheeks and hair. The stink of her public shame and of her day in the Schandemaske however will stay with her for the remainder of her life. To her neighbor she will forever be the Hundinmadchen.

[cclaun]

The goat mask was reserved for women taken in fornication or adultery. The Ziegenmadchen or Ziegenfrauen would be fitted with the goat mask and turned out into the street by her husband or father. Having demonstrated her true nature no one would object to whatever happened to a goat maid.

[cclaun]

At the end of the long day, she will beg to be let in at what was once her door. The punishment will continue until her husband takes pity on her. If not, the mas

k will remain in place until it rots and falls to pieces. She will wander the streets, an object of scorn and derision.

[cclaun]

Several drummers have been hired by her angry husband to follow her about, beating a drum. Even if she flees the village they will follow her and advertise her shame, wherever she goes.