The cage was frequently hung from a tree or a gallows. || Photo via Ripley Entertainment Archives The perforated upper half was then re-attached, and shaking of the sprinkler showered the victim with the hot liquid inside the ladle. Here the victim was placed in a cage just big enough to accommodate the body, but not large enough to allow movement. The crushing bars were sometimes lined with sharp metal points to puncture the thumbs and inflict greater pain in the nail beds. Coffin torture. Extant originals - European renaissance, Iron corset. I already was well-developed and had the body of a grown woman, which made me very insecure. Execution by elephant in Persia (Louis Rousselet, 1868), READ ALSO: 10 Most Cruel Execution Methods of All Time. As I sit here sipping my hot mocha latte at my favorite coffee shop I gaze out the window as always. Not as good as across the street, but depending on what I find in this book I could make it work. The victim's feet were tied to each other in a way that moving one leg would force the other to move as well - increasing pain. It has two forks at opposing ends of a metal rod. The Catherine Wheel, also known as the Breaking Wheel, was one of the most widely used torture devices during the medieval times in Europe. The most preferred torture technique in the Middle Ages was known as coffin torture. Coffin torture isn’t particularly gruesome, but it is still rather terribly inhumane. I know our favorite coffee shops are rivals and that we don't have much in common however, he is by far the most attractive man I have ever seen and I am so intrigued by that little black book he has with him. www.emersonkent.com. The coffin torture - a very cruel medieval device where the victim was locked for hours or longer. As the torturer slowly twisted the handle, the gap between the head cap and plate decreased in width, causing crushing of the skull and facial bones, including teeth and jaws, and ultimately inducing death; even if the torturer stopped before death, permanent damage to the facial muscles and structure would occur. Oct 13, 2017 - medieval, 18th century, etc torture devices. It was used to execute criminals and other accused people since the times of antiquity, although its … Any icy inhalation forced another violent shudder down her body. It is enough for one to look at the picture to the left to realize the reason. After it was dug, a stake was set inside the grave. The devices were there so 40-year-old Geoffrey R. Portway could sexually abuse, torture, murder and cannibalize children, a federal prosecutor contends. 13 Terrifying Medieval Torture Devices List 1) Torture Rack – A popular medieval torture device. After the person died, his flesh was devoured by birds and insects, leaving only a skeleton. The cage was then hung from a tree, gallows or city walls. While this torture rarely ended in death, victims suffered mental distress as they were often abused, verbally and physically by the locals while confined. The Rack consisted of a large rectangular wooden frame, with a roller at one or both ends. This torture device was used extensively during the Middle Ages. The crocodile shears were a torture instrument used in late medieval Europe and usually reserved for men who tried to assassinate the king. What is the medieval torture device that looked like a coffin, but was filled with needles inside, called? The crushing of the fingers was achieved by turning the handle on the top, slowly pushing its toothed crushing bars together. It was originally used in the 18th century as a way of punishing women who were caught bickering or fighting. I was really obsessed with weight loss and had really low self-esteem. Additionally, if a muscle is stretched excessively, they lose their ability to contract, rendering them ineffective. It contained a child-sized homemade coffin, a steel cage, torture devices and butchering tools. Victim usually died from thirst, hunger or hypothermia during the course of next few days. Like the goddess Soteria, who promoted safety and kept the good from harm, a lady cop in the greatest city in the world tried to wrangle a monster. Secondly, and thankfully finally, there’s the tongue tearer (made of iron) which grabs the tongue and allows a screw to be tightened…eventually tearing, or ripping out the tongue. During this torture, the criminal was first positioned in the waist harness above the sharp, pyramid-shaped seat. In the later Middle Ages, a new, even more gruesome design of the rack appeared. Torture might not have been this brutal but it was used to derive the truth and clean the sins of the person before they died. By this time, tourists with an interest in the macabre had to be catered to, and grim tales of such devices could be very lucrative. If his crime was minor, he would be pushed so that the stake pierced through his heart. Thank goodness we don't live in those ages anymore, although, some of these torture methods are said that they STILL occur in some places around the world. Used until the 1800′s in Europe, this chair was layered with 500 to 1,500 spikes on every surface with tight straps to restrain its victim. The Coffin Torture was feared throughout the Middle Ages. Coffin Torture . The iron maiden is a torture device widely believed to have been used in Europe during the Middle Ages. The victim has put astride, naked, on a donkey-like apparatus, which is actually a vertical wooden board with a sharp V-wedge on top of it. Also known as the Sicilian Bull, it was designed in ancient Greece. If his crime was minor, he would be pushed so that the stake pierced through his heart. Most myths and stories about medieval torture devices were popularized in the 1700s and 1800s. Larger, heavier devices based on the same design principle were applied to crush feet and ears. Anyone convicted of a heinous crime was pushed so that the stake mortally wounded him. One of the forks would be placed under the chin, piercing the skin, and the other end would be piercing the flesh in the upper chest. Robert Ripley once carried this authentic medieval torture device home from Nuremberg, Germany. If they did, they would also probably … Another tear fell down her cheek pulling her knees tighter to her chest. Device was never washed, so the torture could often lead to painful infection or even death. Drop me a line or follow me on my social media pages, until next time... Sweet Screams. The victim would be placed inside a steel cage, which would then be hung from a building, a tree or from gallows in the middle of a populated area. This notorious contraption is known by other names, such as the Virgin (a reference to the Virgin Mary), and Jungfer (German for spinster). It was used to slowly crush the victim’s thumbs or other fingers. It was often used to scare people into giving confessions as they watched others being tortured on the device. In order to preserve the peace, her partner and she attempted to keep down a beast that ultimately kicked the female police officer into the path of trains. Did he sing like a canary? Source: StarJumper / Adobe . This article showcases the most horrific torture devices and instruments used in the middle ages. Torture device: The Coffin Torture Just hearing the name "The Coffin" induces fear into most people. The head crusher was a brutal torture device commonly used only by the Spanish Inquisition. See more ideas about torture devices, torture, medieval. It could also be used as a method of execution, the live victim left to starve, or die of thirst, or exposure - generally being hoisted high up to prevent help or rescue. Spikes penetrating victim’s back were also added, so as the limbs were pulled apart, also was the spinal cord. A judas cradle was a device that is triangular. The victim's ankles are fastened to one roller and the wrists are chained to the other. One type was made of four pieces of narrow wooden board nailed together. Reason First: Man Kicks NYPD Officer Off of Train Platform, Sends Wrong Message About NYC. It was common practice to coerce a confession by forcing a victim to watch someone else be tortured with the chair. The victim would then be slowly roasted to death all while screaming in agonizing pain. This way, the punishment made it nearly impossible for them to talk. Dec 30, 2015 - Explore Libby Youtcheff's board "Torture Devices" on Pinterest. Can a musician allegedly speak up to get years knocked off of his sentence? The chair was lined with hundreds of sharp spikes, which would cover the back, seat, arm rests, leg rests and foot rests. I saw a Facebook post titled Medieval Chrisian Torture Devices, which had pictures of a Judas Chair, The Rack, Coffin (not the burial box), Wooden Horse, Guillotine, then the last one was a joke (maybe not by their opinion) The 700 Club. It was awful. The torturer would then saw through the victims’ bodies until they were completely sawed in half. At first, the upper half of the sphere was removed, and the lower half was subsequently filled with the liquid of executioner’s choice. Execution by elephant in Persia(Louis Rousselet, 1868), In the medieval India and Persia, trained elephants were often used to crush the heads of criminals. A victim would be … Coffin Torture. Often a too-small cage was picked for the body, increasing the pain of being squashed against metal. Another variations of this torture method included pouring molten metal to victim’s mouth, anus or vagina, causing great deal of pain, serious inner burns, and eventual death. The thumbscrew was also applied to crush prisoners' big toes. “The first cast iron coffin was created and patented in 1848 by Almond Dunbar Fisk, a stove manufacturer from New York,” wrote ABC. Whether they were used as elaborately or not, like in the stories we have heard, is uncertain, but torture did take place. People Are Horrible: 26 Medieval Torture Devices That Suck by M. W. Byrne While there’s nothing awesome about torture, the creativity and ingenuity that people have managed to use when it comes to hurting each other — particularly back in the bad old days when you couldn’t just go out and get some jumper cables and a car battery to strap to someone’s nipples – is pretty incredible. The iron maiden is a torture device, consisting of an iron cabinet with a hinged front and spike-covered interior, sufficiently tall to enclose a human being. Throughout the history, people have devised a wide variety of ingeniously hideous methods of torture as a form of punishment for crimes, or simply to extract information. The iron maiden was a horrible medieval torture device, a casket with spikes on the inside which could be closed slowly, impaling the living person inside. On a Mythbusters episode, this idea was tried out, and they found out that the combination of restrainment, cold water, and the uncertainty when the next drop will fall, could become maddening after just few hours. Who could forget the rack, commonly considered one of the most painful forms of medieval torture? This method was used to render the knees useless. A common variant of the Breast Ripper was known as “The Spider,” or ”Tarantula”. Roughly speaking Medieval times (or the Middle Ages) started at the end of the Roman Empire, around 500 … In this method, the victim is hung upside down, so that the blood will rush to their heads and keep them conscious during the long torture. This torture could force overweight victims into a smaller device, or even make the "coffin" slightly larger than a victim's body to make him more uncomfortable. The knee splitter was a form of torture used mainly during the inquisition. Starvation and would eventually become food for the crows. A solid piece of brass was cast with a door on the side that could be opened and latched. The boot has taken many forms in various places and times. The moment their head dropped with fatigue, the prongs pierced their throat or chest, causing great pain. Middle Ages Torture, devices, techniques and facts. Dec 30, 2015 - Explore Libby Youtcheff's board "Torture Devices" on Pinterest. The device was placed between the breastbone and throat just under the chin and secured with a leather strap around the neck, while the victim was hung from the ceiling or otherwise suspended in a way so that they could not lie down.Usually, the Heretic's fork was given to people who spoke the Lord's name in vain, blasphemers, or liars. Similar to Judas’s Cradle, but much worse, spanish donkey(also known as wooden horse) was mostly used by the Spanish Inquisition during the Late Middle Ages. Coffin Torture Known as the most preferred torture technique in the Middle ages, convicts or victims are placed in this coffin-like structure that are usually hanged in trees or in the gallows. This very simple instrument created long periods of sleep deprivation. Coffin torture (also known as The Highwayman’s Coffin) Quite possibly the slowest form of torture mainly used for heresy or blasphemy. The victim would then be divided into four separate parts and beheaded (quartered). Given his name, it should come as no surprise that this was the most favored method of execution by Vlad the Impaler. The “Coffin” was a popular medieval torture device that was used to bring about a slow and painful demise. The rain lashed at the windows, coming in waves. Torturers were well-known for forcing overweight victims into the device, or even making the "coffin" slightly larger than normal to make the victims more uncomfortable. The lead sprinkler was a torture device often used to shower victims with molten lead, boiling oil, boiling water, tar or acid. The pear of anguish or choke pear is the modern name for a type of instrument displayed in some museums, consisting of a metal body (usually pear-shaped) divided into spoon-like segments that could be spread apart by turning a screw. Here the victim was placed in a cage just big enough to accommodate the body, but not large enough to allow movement. Although a large number of domestic torture devices used by clans and communities […] Most were cut up only in their abdomen to prolong their agony. This was one of the most dreaded forms of torture during the Medieval Period. The blocks were connected with two large screws. Unfortunately, thousands upon thousands of people died when these devices were put to use, but the ones that didn't still suffered a great amount of pain and were scarred for life. It was also not real. Sometimes the coffin was left in a plaza for all to see where animals could eat at the flesh of the victim or others could throw rocks at them for whatever crime it was that they might have done. The victims were usually naked, adding to the overall humiliation of the torture, and tortured by intense pressure and stretching of the orifice. Generally, they would be left there until the crows came to feed on their remains. These shears were made of metal, based on the concept of pincers. READ ALSO: 11 tortures from the Middle Ages that were reserved for women. As the interrogation process progressed, a handle attached to the top roller was used to gradually stretch the limbs away from the body, resulting in excruciating pain. See more ideas about torture devices, torture, history. He just got a phone call and left abruptly, it's highly unlike him. Most people with low resources such as peasants, labor workers, and farmers, had little to no rights when it came down to the "law". The ropes would pull the victim’s arms and legs, eventually dislocating his joints with loud popping noises, snapping his muscles and ligaments, and sometimes even ripping the person’s upper limbs right off his body. One of the most notorious forms of executions, the guillotine was made of a razor sharp blade attached to a rope. I don't even know his name...yet but I am about to know a lot more about him. One gruesome aspect of being stretched too far on the rack is the loud popping noises made by snapping cartilage, ligaments or bones. Coffin Torture By means of pulleys and levers, this roller could be rotated on its own axis, thus straining the ropes until the sufferer's joints were dislocated and eventually separated. This device was allegedly used during the American Civil War by Union soldiers, against their Confederate prisoners, who were forced to sit on the donkey until they passed out. Due to heavy blood loss or infection, death often followed. Coffin Torture This form of torture involved putting the victim inside a metal cage about the size of a coffin and hanging them from a tree until crows ate them. Powered by .css-v0w4zo-Footer:hover,.css-v0w4zo-Footer:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1wxdhtw-SiteLink-Footer{color:#1A1A1A;}.css-1wxdhtw-SiteLink-Footer:hover,.css-1wxdhtw-SiteLink-Footer:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Vocal © 2021 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved. It is enough for one to look at the picture to the left to realize the reason. Of all the times to live in throughout history the Medieval period was probably one to avoid. Although it really doesn’t resemble a coffin this painful torture device was wrapped around a person and then bolted shut. He carries it everywhere and never puts that thing down. Coffin Torture. The time spend by victim in the cage depended on the crime committed. I didn't look like other girls my age. Throughout history, there have been contradictory accounts of this grim, vertical-standing coffin laced with spikes and similar methods of torture. Often a too-small cage was picked for the body, increasing the pain of being squashed against metal. The Strappado is a form of torture in which the victim's hands are first tied behind his or her back and suspended in the air by means of a rope attached to wrists, which most likely dislocates both arms. The earliest methods would see the victim sandwiched between a pair of boards and more and more weight piled on top. The Coffin was a metal cage, shaped in human form, where the victim would be placed. The Church used torture to force others to convert to Christianity and because the Church used torture, government authorities used the same means too. Sounds like a device from hell, if there is one. Most of them highly painful and very slow, while others were used as means of interrogation. The insides of their hemicylindrical blades were lined with a great amount of spikes. Also, a person wearing it couldn't fall asleep. In Mongol Empire, the worst criminals were sometimes punished by pouring molten silver to their eyes. It was essentially a ladle placed at the end of a long, iron handle. Principally practiced in antiquity, though it remains practiced in some countries today; it is one of the most well-known execution methods due to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It was also used as a weapon. The victim was placed inside a metal cage roughly made in the shape of the human body. The executioner then slowly turned the screw, gradually compressing the head between the bar and cap. Coffin torture or Immurement is the most feared among the torture in middle Ages. The victim is placed inside a metal cage that was just about the size of the human body – hence the name. The time spent on torturing … Depending on the crime, the person could be left in there to die, while animals ate their flesh or they would be placed on public display, which would cause their death. Also known as the Judas Chair, it was a terrible, intimidating torture device that was added to dungeons in the Middle Ages. See more ideas about torture devices, torture, history. Was a torture device used for capital punishment from Antiquity into early modern times for public execution by breaking the criminal's bones/bludgeoning him to death. The rack is a torture device that consists of an oblong, rectangular, usually wooden frame, slightly raised from the ground, with a roller at one, or both, ends, having at one end a fixed bar to which the legs were fastened, and at the other a movable bar to which the hands were tied. Coffin torture (also known as The Highwayman’s Coffin) Quite possibly the slowest form of torture mainly used for heresy or blasphemy. The most famous Iron Maiden legend is that of the iconic Iron Maiden of Nuremberg, which alleges it was built at the turn of the 19th century and was later shattered by bombing raids at the close of World War II. What is the medieval torture device that looked like a coffin, but was filled with needles inside, called? The victim would presumably be placed in the waist harness above the pyramid-shaped seat, with the point inserted into their an*s or v*gin*, then very slowly lowered by ropes. In the medieval ages, torture was used to punish heretical behavior and sexual offenders. shaped seat wer the person was seated and tortured to his or her death. December 8, 2013 by Chris Simons 14 Comments. The iron maiden was a horrible medieval torture device, a casket with spikes on the inside which could be closed slowly, impaling the living person inside. Now, this may be an unpopular opinion, but I was never really a huge fan of the show, so after I made this connection I was apprehensive to crack open this book. Head Crusher(previously used by Spanish Inquisition). The ripper was then pulled away, ripping and shredding the breasts. Sometimes, various weights were tied to the legs, to dramatically increase the pain, and eventually tear muscular tissues of the orifice. This device was used during the Spanish Inquisition. One of the torture devices during the Spanish Inquisition and medieval ages, this is probably one of the most gruesome of them all. Weights may be added to the body to intensify the effect and increase the pain. It was also not real. When they failed, the prisoners were hooked into this scary neck device which could be made of wood or metal. The coffin torture - a very cruel medieval device where the victim was locked for hours or longer. Here is a quick rundown of 10 most cruel and hideous torture devices and methods to ever come out of the darkest corners of the human history. The cage could also be used as a gibbet for executed criminals. It is a deliberately slow and painful execution where the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until they die, which usually takes days. Did he open his mouth? She wanted nothing more than to curl up into such a tight ball that she would disappear, or at the very least, allow the thin, worn blanket to cover her entire person. In the Middle Ages, the coffin torture was the most preferred torture technique. During the Middle Ages, the coffin was one of the most prevalent torture and execution methods, often seen in various movies set in the.medieval Europe The victims were stripped naked, and placed inside a metal cage, roughly made in the shape of the human body. Perhaps her feet were already ice and instead just shatter upon touching something solid. In the meantime don't forget to .css-pzhtt7{color:#000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-pzhtt7:hover,.css-pzhtt7:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}FOLLOW ME and share this article. Is a torture device consisting of a rectangular, usually wooden frame, slightly raised from the ground, with a roller at one or both ends. The prongs were nearly never washed, so the chances of these infections were very high. The victims were placed inside the mental cage which roughly made in the shape of the human body. The time spent … The victim's feet were tied to each other in a way that moving one leg would force the other to move as well - increasing pain.The triangular-shaped end of the judas cradle was inserted in the victim's anus or vagina. Another torture supported by Nero involved the accused digging his own grave. Once inside its conical frame, the victim would be unable to move due to the great number of steel spikes impaling them from every direction. Sometimes, onlookers would throw rocks and spoiled food to the victims, to further increase the humiliation and pain. Painful Torture Devices: Knee Splitter Used frequently during the Spanish Inquisition, the knee splitter, naturally, was used to split a victims knee. He's sitting there like usual 7:15am sipping his hot black coffee. It was a simple vice, with its crushing bars often lined with sharp metal tooth. Even forcing the prisoners to watch someone else being tortured on the rack was often enough to extract confessions. 4. The Coffin was a torture instrument made from metal to form a frame similar to that of the human body. Although not painful or destructive in nature, Chinese water torture is often deemed one of the most debilitating torture methods ever conceived. Next, I've compiled a list of the 25 worst medieval torture devices. Advertisement. Torturers could force overweight victims into a smaller device, or even make the "coffin" slightly larger than a victim’s body to make him more uncomfortable. This practice continued well into the 19th century. Coffin Torture . Did these devices give you chills just thinking about them? If they didn’t confess or spill the beans then they would end up being crushed to death. Since the decapitation was considered to be an instant and painless event (at least less painful than the other torture methods), it was often considered the most humane method of execution. 2. As the interrogation progresses, a handle and ratchet mechanism attached to the top roller is used to very gradually increase the tension on the chains, inducing excruciating pain. “The so-called Fisk metallic burial cases were custom-formed to the body of the deceased, styled after an Egyptian sarcophagus, and some featured a small glass window over the face for viewing.” The victim's thumbs or fingers were placed in the vice and slowly crushed. During the old days, weaponries are very famous. Victim was positioned on the frame, his ankles were fastened to one roller and the wrists to the other. This was a random find for me. This torture could last from a few hours to several days. It was extremely useful for overweight victims. NOTE: .css-nuxzf3-Bold{font-weight:bold;}NOT ALL torture devices are listed here. This device was commonly used on thieves and unfaithful wives.