The Latin translates to “the word became flesh,” which is pretty damn metal to put on a sword used for decapitation.

Edit: I just noticed that the inscription reads et verbum caro facum est instead of et verbum caro factum est. Not sure if this was a mistake or abbreviation, but I think the actual inscription would read “the word burns flesh”?

I’m basically Brian from the Latin lesson scene in the Life of Brian, so if anyone has an actual grasp of Latin grammar, please correct me.

I wondered if the prisoner’s stance in the engraving was normal for a sword execution, it seemed like it would be more efficient for everyone to place your neck on a backstop like the chained log. With the backstop you wouldn’t have to worry about your flopping body absorbing any of the executioner’s swing energy.

So to wikipedia I went, and based on the images in that article both of the prisoners are shown either standing or kneeling rather than resting their necks on a backstop. Ouch.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Beheading_Fac_simile_of_a_Miniature_on_Wood_in_the_Cosmographie_Universelle_of_Munster_in_folio_Basle_1552.png

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Scharfrichterschwert-ffm002.jpg