anatomical features used to accuse women of witchcraft in the 17th century

In reports of witch trials in Europe and North America in the 17th century, physical features alone were considered conclusive evidence of witchcraft. The devil was believed to brand the bodies of witches with symbolic material marks, such as unusual growths or spots. This led to regular body checks at witch trials. The discovery of such signs was considered conclusive medical and scientific evidence of witchcraft and often sealed the fate of the victim.

Here are just a few anatomical features that have historically been used to call someone a witch:

Are you a woman?

Although men were sometimes accused of witchcraft, historical witch hunts primarily targeted women—especially women who led independent lives (such as widows and spinsters) or who were outspoken and did not conform to social norms. Historians estimate that more than 75% of those accused of witchcraft in the 16th and 17th centuries were women.

Religious teachings of the time reinforced the idea that women were morally weaker and therefore more susceptible to temptation and sin.

By this standard, if you identify as a woman today, you are one of approximately 3.95 billion potential “witches.”

How old are you?

Age was another factor in the witch trials. Older women, especially those past childbearing age, were often suspected of witchcraft, especially if they were widows, owned property, or lived alone.

Records show that more than half of those accused of witchcraft in Scotland between 1563 and 1736 were over 40 years of age. At that time, the average life expectancy was about 32 years.

Today, with an estimated 1.4 billion women over 40 worldwide, many more would be similarly suspect by historical standards.

Do you have an extra nipple?

The “witch’s nipple” was a common feature that witch hunters used to identify someone as a witch. It was believed that this extra nipple was used by witches to feed so-called demonic familiars, which were often represented as small animals or demons. Witch hunters examined the chest or torso for any irregularities and classified them as witch nipples.

In fact, redundant nipples (or polythelia) are benign. They form in the early stages of embryonic development and in some people do not disappear completely.

Another feature that was sometimes mistaken for a supernumerary nipple was the clitoris. Historical evidence suggests that women were sometimes judged based on the size of this body part. Pamphlets of the time describing the process of identifying a “witch’s nipple” often mention a small protuberance located near a woman’s “foundation” or “secret place” – a euphemism for the female genitalia.

It is estimated that about 5% of the world’s population has at least one extra nipple. They appear more often on the left side of the chest and are more common in men. Harry Styles, who openly discussed having four nipples, might have been much less inclined to share these details about himself in the 17th century.

Do you have a birthmark?

In the 17th century, any type of birthmark or change in skin color could be called a “devil’s mark.” Matthew Hopkins, the infamous “Witchfinder General”, considered any unusual spot, freckle or birthmark to be a sign of a pact with the devil. Witch hunters often pierced these marks with pins, believing that a real devil’s mark would not bleed or cause pain.

Today, about 80% of people are born with some kind of birthmark, making it a surprisingly common trait among so-called witches.

Pigmented birthmarks, such as moles or café-au-lait spots (flat, light-colored birthmarks), are the result of an accumulation of pigmented cells that form during development. Vascular types, such as port wine stains (flat, red, or purple in color), occur due to malformations of tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin. Port wine stains appear in only about 0.3% of children, but they are twice as common in girls.

Do you have a mole or mark on your skin?

Moles and marks on the skin were also seen as possible signs of the devil. Witch hunters also tested moles by trying to cut or stab them. As with moles, if they did not bleed, it meant that the person was considered a witch.

Today we know that moles are simply clumps of pigmented cells, and skin tags are small, harmless growths that form when the skin rubs against itself. However, in the 17th century, these innocent signs meant disaster.

Do you have an extra digit?

Polydactyly, or having an extra finger or toe, was another rare but suspicious trait. The extra digit was seen as a supernatural aberration, supposedly increasing the witch’s powers as a “gift” from the devil.

In fact, polydactyly is a harmless genetic mutation that affects approximately one in every 500 to 1,000 births. But in the past, this rare trait has subjected those who had it to scrutiny in witch-hunting societies.

Do you have red hair?

Red hair, an unusual trait, was considered sinister in some regions, especially Europe. Some theories suggest that the rarity of red hair and its association with a fiery temperament or pagan origins contributed to its stigmatization. The notorious 1468 witchcraft treatise Malleus Maleficarum (Witches’ Hammer) warned of redheads as potential witches, linking them with “tempting powers” and “wild spirits.”

Today, less than 2% of the world’s population has red hair, although about 6% of people have some red hair genetics. But in the 17th century, this unusual trait could heighten suspicions that someone was a witch.

So are you a witch?

If you don’t have any of these traits, you’d probably be safe from early modern witch hunters. But if you had even one of these anatomical features, suspicions might be raised against you.

Fortunately, all British witchcraft laws were repealed in 1951, meaning that these common traits are now simply anatomical features and nothing more.