Ah, Medieval times. Some may try to romanticize them, but let’s be honest here: It was not a fun period to be alive. And even if you were alive, you often didn’t stay that way for long. Whether it was malnutrition, the Bubonic plague, or being called a heretic and burned alive by the church, times were mighty tough.
And if the church or state wanted to prove you were guilty of something, or even if they just didn’t like they way you looked, they had numerous devices they could use to either extract a confession or put you through unimaginable pain before they decided to kill you. Here is a look at a dozen such devices that were used:
1. The Head Crusher
This instrument was fitted with a screw that turned until the victim’s skull and jaw were crushed, which often made the eyes pop out. Talk about a migraine!
2. Cradle of Judas
Painful to look at, isn’t it??Torturers ?would place the victim’s anus or vagina atop the pyramid and slowly lower their body using ropes until the cavity was stretched, which would eventually impale them. Yikes!
3. Cat’s Paw
Used to tear flesh away from the victim’s bone. You could just show this to me and I’m sure I’d confess to anything you wanted to hear.
4. The Rack
We’ve all heard about someone being placed or “broken” on the Rack. Each of the victim’s limbs were fitted into ropes and then stretched by the turning of handles. This was known to cause broken bones or sometimes total detachment. Gross!
5. Knee Splitter
Does exactly what you think it does. At times?heat was added to the wooden spikes in order to make the experience even more painful.
6. Spanish Donkey
This one truly shows how cruel and inhumane people can be. The victim was placed on the device naked, as if straddling a horse. Weights were then placed on the victim’s feet, pulling them downward, which frequently resulted in the person being split in half.
7. Crocodile Tube
A person’s feet or face were placed inside the tube, which was then heated. Spikes, heat, flesh. Not a nice way to go.
8. The Saw
Extremely popular because it required very little equipment.?Tied upside down (making sure the victim stayed conscious for as long as possible), the victim was sawed up to his abdomen and left to?expire in a very painful fashion.
9. The Coffin
In this, the person was locked inside the metal cage and hung from either a tree or gallows. Those passing by were encouraged to throw stones at the victim, and wild animals might also decide to pay a visit.
10. Scold’s Bridle
This was primarily used on women. The inside of the iron mask was usually covered in spikes, which did not make for a very pleasant facial.
11. Brazen Bull
A victim was placed inside a large brass bull. A fire was lit beneath it. The person inside will often then die of burns or of asphyxiation.
12. The Wheel
Another one that is familiar to many of us in the modern world. Victims might be beaten while on the wheel, and a fire might also be built beneath them. Afterwards, the body was left to be picked at by birds.
h/t and All Images: ILykeFunny
