The Witch Prosthetic Nose as a Symbol of Empowerment and Resistance

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A witch prosthetic nose is an accessory commonly used by actors, cosplayers, and Halloween enthusiasts to create a convincing witch look. It is a synthetic nose that is attached to the face using adhesive or tape. These prosthetic noses are designed to resemble the classic image of a witch's nose, which is typically long, curved, and pointed. The witch prosthetic nose is often made from latex or silicone, which can be molded and shaped to create the desired effect. They are often available in different styles and sizes to suit various preferences and facial structures. Some witch prosthetic noses also come with additional features such as warts, moles, or wrinkles to enhance the overall witch-like appearance.


Written a few years before he authorized the Bible translation with which King James has become synonymous, Daemonologie contains three philosophical dialogues that deal with demons, magic, sorcery, and witchcraft. The work explains why it is right that witches should be persecuted in a Christian society.

Local witches were accused of raising the storm that had troubled the North Sea voyage of Anne of Denmark, bride of King James later also King James I of England. In order to unlock the data contained in the SoSW database, the University of Edinburgh in 2018 and 2019 launched a project to locate and visualize the various places it recorded.

Witchcraft on the map

Some witch prosthetic noses also come with additional features such as warts, moles, or wrinkles to enhance the overall witch-like appearance. To apply a witch prosthetic nose, one must first clean and dry the area where it will be attached. Adhesive or specially formulated prosthetic glue is then applied to the back of the nose.

This Map Shows the Scale of 16th- and 17th-Century Scottish Witch Hunts

In 1629, an elderly Scottish woman named Isobel Young was strangled and burned at the stake on charges of witchcraft. As neighbors and relatives testified, Young—the wife of a tenant farmer based in a small village east of Edinburgh—was prone to “patterns of verbal and sometimes physical aggression,” as well as “odd magical characteristics.” Her husband, George Smith, added fuel to the fire claiming that his wife had attempted “to kill him with magic after quarreling about an unsavory house guest.” In total, court records show, 45 witnesses raised complaints against Young, “telling a story that unfolded over four decades.” The verdict was unanimous: guilty.

Young’s case is one of 3,141 recorded in a new interactive map created by researchers at the University of Edinburgh. Drawing on data collected for an earlier university project titled the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, the tool visualizes an array of locations linked with Scotland’s 16th- and 17th-century witch hunts: among others, accused individuals’ places of residence; sites of detention, trial and execution; and spots targeted by infamous “witch-pricker” John Kincaid, who traveled the country in search of suspects bearing the "Devil’s mark."

“There is a very strong feeling out there that not enough has been done to inform people about the women who were accused of being witches in Scotland,” Ewan McAndrew, the University of Edinburgh’s Wikimedian in Residence, tells the Scotsman’s Alison Campsie. “… The idea of being able to plot these on a map really brings it home. These places are near everyone.

A group of Scottish witches depicted consorting with the Devil Public domain

As Neil Drysdale of the Press and Journal reports, the map features an array of previously unpublished data, much of which was extracted from historical records by undergraduate Emma Carroll and uploaded to Wikidata, a public database created by the team behind Wikipedia. While some entries remain limited in scope, outlining little beyond the accused’s name and locality, others are replete with information.

Consider, for instance, the case of Janet Boyman, a healer who was charged with sorcery, witchcraft and consorting with fairies. Per the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, Boyman, who was executed in 1572, predicted the death of the country’s regent, bore “five bairns” allegedly without feeling any pain and appealed to elvish spirits in hopes of curing a sick man. Today, historians consider Boyman’s trial one of the earliest and most comprehensive examples of witchcraft prosecution in Scotland.

This illustration is from King James VI's 1597 treatise on witchcraft Public domain

According to Edinburgh Live’s Hilary Mitchell, Scotland experienced four major witch hunts between roughly 1590 and 1727, when Janet Horne, the last Scot to be executed for witchcraft, was burned at the stake. Much of this ongoing mania can be attributed to the passage of a 1563 act that declared the practice of witchcraft a capital offense. James VI’s notorious witch-hunting fervor also contributed to the movement’s prevalence; in 1597, the king, soon to be crowned James I of England, published a treatise condemning witchcraft and encouraging vigorous prosecution of suspected practitioners.

As h istorian Steven Katz explains , Europe’s witch hunts stemmed from “the enduring grotesque fears [women] generate in respect of their putative abilities to control men and thereby coerce, for their own ends, male-dominated Christian society.” Ultimately that hysteria claimed as many as 4,000 lives in Scotland—double the execution rate seen in neighboring England, as Tracy Borman points out in History Extra . Although the majority of victims were women (per Mitchell, five times as many women were executed for witchcraft in Scotland than in England), men also faced trial and execution.

Speaking with the Scotsman ’s Campsie, McAndrew says, “The map is a really effective way to connect where we are now to these stories of the past.”

He adds, “There does seem to be a growing movement that we need to be remembering these women, remembering what happened and understanding what happened.”

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The witch-pricker John Kincaid was mainly active around Edinburgh, but ventured as far south as Newcastle. Accused Witches Map Project, Edinburgh University
Witch prosthetic nose

The prosthetic nose is carefully positioned on the face, usually over the bridge of the nose, and pressed firmly to ensure a secure bond. Makeup or face paint can be applied to blend the prosthetic nose seamlessly with the rest of the face. Witch prosthetic noses are a popular choice for costume parties, theatrical performances, and Halloween events. They add a touch of realism and create a more dramatic and authentic look. With the right application and makeup, a witch prosthetic nose can transform anyone into a spellbinding witch character..

Reviews for "The Witch Prosthetic Nose as a Connection to Ancestral Magic"

1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with the witch prosthetic nose. It looked nothing like what was advertised. The quality was very poor, and the paint job was uneven and smudged. It didn't fit properly on my face and kept falling off. Overall, it was a waste of money and a big letdown for my Halloween costume.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - This witch prosthetic nose was a disaster. The material it was made of was flimsy and uncomfortable to wear. The paint job was terrible, and it didn't look realistic at all. It was way overpriced for the poor quality. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone looking to complete their witch costume.
3. Michael - 2/5 - The witch prosthetic nose was a complete disappointment. It didn't look anything like the picture shown on the website. The shape was completely off, and it didn't fit properly on my face. The prosthetic was uncomfortable to wear and started peeling off after just a few hours. It was definitely not worth the price I paid for it. I regret buying it and would not recommend it to others.
4. Emily - 1/5 - I bought the witch prosthetic nose for a Halloween party, and it was a total disaster. The quality was extremely poor, with visible seams and uneven edges. The color was off, and it looked cheap and plastic-like. It didn't stick well to my face even with the adhesive provided. I ended up taking it off after a few minutes because it was so uncomfortable. I would not recommend this to anyone.

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