13 most sophisticated medieval torture devices

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The Middle Ages is considered the period in history with the most ruthless attitude towards people. For the slightest offense, they were subjected to sophisticated torture. This review presents 13 instruments of torture that will make people confess to anything.

1. "Pear of Suffering"

This cruel tool has been used to punish women who have aborted, liars and homosexuals. The device was inserted into the vagina for women or the anus for men. When the executioner turned the screw, the "petals" opened, tearing the flesh and bringing unbearable torment to the victims. Many then died from blood poisoning.

2. Rack

The victim was tied to a wooden frame by the arms and legs and the limbs were stretched in opposite directions. At first, the cartilaginous tissue was torn, and then the limbs were pulled out. A little later, spikes were attached to the frame, which dug into the back of the victim. To intensify the pain, the thorns were smeared with salt.

3. "Catherine's Wheel"

Before tying the victim to the wheel, her limbs were broken. When rotating, the legs and arms were finally broken, bringing unbearable torment to the victim. Some died from painful shock, while others suffered for several days.

4. Trumpet - "crocodile"

The victim's legs or face (sometimes both) were placed inside this pipe, thereby immobilizing it. The executioner gradually heated the iron, forcing people to confess to anything.

5. Copper bull

The victim was placed in a copper statue of a bull, under which a fire was made. The man was dying of burns and suffocation. During the torture, the screams coming from within were like the bellowing of a bull.

6. Spanish donkey

A wooden log in the form of a triangle was fixed on the "legs". The naked victim was placed on top at a sharp angle that cut right into the crotch. To make the torture more unbearable, weights were tied to the legs.

7. Torture coffin

The victims were placed in metal cages, which completely immobilized them. If the torture coffins were too large for people, this gave them additional torment. This death was long and painful. The birds pecked at the flesh of the victims, and the crowd threw stones at them.

8. Head crusher

The unfortunate man's head was clamped under this "cap". The executioner slowly tightened the screws, and the top of the "grinder" pressed against the skull. The jaw was the first to break, a tooth fell out. After that, the eyes were squeezed out, and finally, the skull broke.

9. "Cat's paw"

The "cat's paw" was used to tear flesh to the bone.

10. Knee crusher

This instrument of torture was especially popular during the Inquisition. The victim's knee was placed between the teeth. As the executioner tightened the screws, the prongs dug into the flesh and then crush the knee joint. After such torture, it was no longer possible to get up but legs.

11. "Cradle of Judas"

One of the most cruel tortures was called the "Cradle of Judas" or "Chair of Judas". The victim was forcibly lowered onto an iron pyramid. The tip fell directly into the anus or vagina. The resulting breaks after a while led to death.

12. Chest "claws"

This instrument of torture was used against women who were accused of adultery. The claws were heated and then thrust into the victim's chest. If a woman did not die, then for the rest of her life she remained with terrible scars.

13. "Abusive bridle"

This peculiar iron mask was used to punish grumpy women. Inside it there could be thorns, and in the hole for the mouth there was a plate that was superimposed on the tongue so that the victim could not speak. Usually the woman was escorted through noisy squares. The bell attached to the mask attracted everyone's attention, prompting the crowd to laugh at the one who was being punished. Medieval torture is a terrible thing. But it is even worse if people consciously go for it. So at all times women subjected themselves to real tortureto comply with the canons of the beauty of their people.