By 1000 AD, trained elephants were used in South and Southeast Asia as a method of execution, where condemned individuals were trampled or dismembered. This brutal practice was often employed by regional kingdoms to instill fear and demonstrate power. The use of elephants in such a manner highlights the complex relationship between humans and animals in ancient societies, as well as the cultural significance of elephants in Asian traditions.

The practice of elephant crushing in South and Southeast Asia around 1000 appears in Asian epics and poetry, serving as a metaphor for overwhelming royal power and fate. This imagery resonated with themes of tyranny and resistance, enriching the cultural narratives of the time.