In the TV series Game of Thrones, there were four different seasons where disputes were determined with trial by combat.

As fictional as the Game of Thrones universe is, the idea of resolving legal disputes by fighting, sometimes to the death, was actually historically

accurate. For centuries, trial by combat was a legitimate option for conflict resolution, and

according to some theories, it might actually still technically

exist today. Learn more about trial by combat and how it was actually

conducted on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. everywhere daily. As insane as it sounds, the idea of people fighting to determine guilt or innocence,

aka the truth, was actually a thing at one time.

Trial by combat, also known as a judicial duel, is an offshoot of something known as

trial by ordeal.

And trial by ordeal was actually common in many ancient cultures.

It would consist of having to go through some unpleasant experience, usually involving

fire or water. Examples of this could include walking over hot coals, grabbing an object out of a

vat of boiling water, being submerged in water, or being forced to ingest poison.

If the person could survive the ordeal or come out unscathed, they would be declared innocent.

If there was an accuser, they would often be subject to the same ordeal if the accused passed.

The legal theory behind a trial by ordeal in Christian Europe was that God

would protect the innocent and invoke a miracle on their behalf. However, the idea of a

trial by ordeal actually went all the way back to the code of

hammer-robby. The idea of trial by combat is basically an offshoot of this idea.

Trial by combat actually didn't exist as far as we know in most ancient societies

including Rome, Babylon, Egypt or even ancient Israel. The religious idea behind

trial by combat was similar to that of trial by ordeal, but in particular it

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