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By litgoddess
| El Segundo
History & Humanities >>
Historical Events >>
Top 10 Types of Medieval Torture
They call them horrific torture devices, but I can think of several people who would deserve a few hours on at least one.
Pens out, please.
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The Judas CradleThe Judas Cradle, a medieval torture where the victim would be placed on top of a pyramid-like seat. 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. This torture could last anywhere from a few hours to complete days. While loss of blood really wasn't a risk, victims died of infection, since the device was never cleaned. Bacteria, blood, pus, discharge... Well, you get the point. -
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FlayingFlaying is a very old torture method that was used thousands of years ago in the Middle East, Africa and even America. During the Middle Ages, it was frequently used to torture and execute criminals, captured soldiers and witches. In one version of the Flaying Torture, the victim's arms were tied to a pole above his head while his feet were tied below. His body was now completely exposed and the torturer, with the help of a small knife, peeled off the victim's skin slowly. In most cases, the torturer peeled off his facial skin first, slowly working his way down to the victim's feet. Most victims died before the torturer even reached their waist. In another version, the victim was submerged into boiling water and was taken out after a few minutes. He was slowly flayed. "Hey, Bobby Flay, what's on todays menu?" "We're having a spicy bit of humanus epidermus. Would you like white meat or dark?" -
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The Pear of AnguishThe Pear of Anguish was used during the Middle Ages as a way to torture women who conducted a miscarriage, liars, blasphemers and homosexuals. A pear-shaped instrument was inserted into one of the victim's orifices: the vagina for women, the anus for homosexuals and the mouth for liars and blasphemers. The instrument consisted of four leaves that slowly separated from each other as the torturer turned the screw at the top. It was the torturer's decision to simply tear the skin or expand the "pear" to its maximum and mutilate the victim. The Pear of Anguish was usually very adorned to differentiate between the anal, vaginal and oral pears. They also varied in size accordingly. Constipation: SOLVED -
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The Spanish DonkeyThe Spanish Donkey gave victims an unimaginably horrible ride. Victims are put astride, naked, the apparatus, which is actually a vertical wood board with a sharp V-shape wedge on top. Varying weights are then attached to their feet. Eventually, the victim's own weight and the extra baggage cause the wedge to slice through their bodies, splitting them in half. If you ask me, this one is kind of half-assed. -
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The Crocodile TubeThe victim was fixed inside a tube just big enough for the victim's entrance. The tube, having crocodile teeth-like spikes, was slowly compressed leaving the victim totally immobilized. The torturer could only see his face and feet. With the help of carbon and fire underneath the tube, the torturer gradually heated the tube until he extracted a confession or killed the victim. With the face and feet exposed, the torturer was able to inflict painful wounds on the victim. Facial mutilation and toe ripping were preferred choices. Other methods included forcing the victim to crouch inside the ring, thereby compressing the lungs and causing the intestines to burst. -
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The Heretics ForkThe heretics fork was used in the Middles Ages mainly during the Spanish Inquisition. The instrument consists of two forks set against each other that penetrated the flesh under the chin in one end and the upper chest in the other. The Heretics Fork made speech and neck movement almost impossible and was used after a confession to avoid hearing the victim any further. "That'll teach you to not finish all your food!" -
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ImpalingThe most common way of impalement was through the anus - but variations existed. Vlad, the er, Impaler, impaled people from the chest, legs, arms and; surprisingly, from the skull. In rare cases, the stick would go perfectly from the anus to the mouth - in other cases the stick would stay stuck with a bone - it would go out through the chest or, more commonly, through the neck. -
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The Breast RipperUsed as a way to punish women, the breast ripper was a painful and cruel way to mutilate a woman's breasts. The claws were used either hot or cold on the victim's exposed breasts. If the victim wasn't killed she would be scarred for life as her breasts were literally torn apart. A common variant of the breast ripper is often referred to as "The Spider" which is a similar instrument attached to a wall. The victim's breasts were fixed to the claws and the woman was pulled by the torturer away from the wall; successfully removing both breasts. Please excuse me for a moment - the "girls" and I need some quality time. -
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The Iron MaidenThe Iron Maiden, otherwise known as the Virgin of Nuremberg, was a device used from the XVI century to torture criminals. It stands 7 feet tall and can accommodate a large man. The victim was tied inside the Maiden and one of the two doors was shut, penetrating the victim's flesh with the strategically-placed spikes that didn't penetrate any vital organs. When completely closed, the screams from the victim could not be heard outside, nor could the victim see any light or hear anything. Additionally, the spikes blocked the wounds so it took many hours - or even days - for death to occur. -
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The Brazen BullThe brazen bull is hard-boiled device first invented in Ancient Greece. When a victim is placed inside the brazen bull, he or she is slowly burned to death. This device gradually became more sophisticated until the Greeks invented a complex system of tubes in order to make the victim's screams sound like an infuriated ox. Even though this torture was not used as frequently during the Middle Ages as it was used earlier by the Greek and Romans, it was still used in Central Europe. This torture is similar to being boiled alive. Some bulls were equipped with a removable back end, thereby making is possible to remove the entree through the Angus anus. And that ain't bullshit, either.
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