| has gloss | eng: According to witch-hunters during the height of the witch trials (c. 1645), the witches’ mark (also called a witches teat) indicated that an individual was a witch. The witches mark, witches teat, and the devils mark are all terms applied to essentially the same mark. The beliefs about the mark differ depending on the trial location and the accusation made against the witch. Evidence of the witches’ mark is found earliest in the 1500s, and reached its peak in 1645, then essentially disappeared by 1700. The Devil's mark was believed to be the permanent marking of the Devil on his initiates to seal their obedience and service to him. He created the mark by raking his claw across their flesh, or by making a blue or red brand using a hot iron. Sometimes, the mark was believed to have been left by the Devil licking the individual. The Devil was thought to mark the individual at the end of nocturnal initiation rites. |
