Medieval Torture

Medieval Torture

Medieval Torture • Torture was used during the Middle Ages for three reasons: • To force confessions or secret information from those accused • To discourage dissent and intellectual freedom • To persuade Jews, Muslims, and other non-believers to accept Christianity

Whirligig • Spinning Cage • Primarily used for military punishment

WoodenWedges • Used to force confessions • Forced underneath toenails and fingernails • Other tortures used with the wedges when this was not enough to force confession

Scissors • Used to slice tongue after victims mouth was forced open

The Copper Boot • Place around victims foot • Filled with molten lead

The Sprinkler • Filled with molten metal • Dripped on body of the victim

Water Torture • Victims nostrils pinched shut • Fluid poured down throat

The Thumbscrew • Placed on thumb and tightened until bone is crushed

Iron Maiden • Iron Maiden • Spikes in the Iron Maiden were strategically located to avoid major organs, thereby prolonging the inevitable death of the accused. • Small Box

The Spanish Donkey • Victim placed on top • Weights tied on legs

The Foot Press • Press slowly squeezed the naked foot between the iron plates • Crushed bones

The Head Crusher • Victims head placed inside clamp • Tightened until it cracked the skull

The Scottish Boot • Boot placed around ankle • Wedges then forced into the ankle

The Masks and Branks

The Chastity Belt • Used to prevent infidelity and encourage women to be faithful • Used to prevent women from being raped

The Garrotte • Iron collar with iron rod being tightened from behind • Victim died from asphyxiation and because spinal cord was being crushed • Used in Spain until 1975

Inquisitional Chair • Spikes cover back, armrest, • and seat • Victim strapped around waist, • wrist, and chest • Used up until the 19th Century

The Rack • Stretched victim until bones and joints were pulled apart • If victim did not die they were often so injured they could not take part in a confession

Cat`s Paw or Spanish Tickler • Used to rip victims flesh • from the bone • Victims tied up by hands and feet

The Wheel • One of the most painful and common acts of torture • Victim tied down with limbs spread • Cross pieces placed under joints and limbs and then smashed • with iron-tyred edge of the wheel

The Heretic`s Fork • Forks penetrated the skin under the chin and over the chest • Forks did not penetrate into vital points, prolonging suffering before death

The Saw • Inflicted for a variety of crimes including witchcraft, rebellion, and military disobedience. • Victim inverted to slow down general loss of blood so he did not loose consciousness at once, and could endure longer suffering.

Juda`s Cradle • Hung by iron belt surrounding upper waist • Bound hand and foot • Used in multiple ways

The Guillotine

Brazen Bull • Victims slowly burned to death

Rat Torture • Rats used to eat away at the victim’s body. • Would put rat under a bowl and then heat it. • Rat would end up eating through the victim trying to escape

Pear of Anguish • Used to get a confession or to cause miscarriages of a woman who cheated on her husband. • Was slowly opened up

Foot Roasting • They would put the victim’s legs in the foot stocks and put hot coals underneath or light a fire. • It would burn the legs to the bone

Pillory Torture • Used to embarrass victims • Stuff could be thrown at them • They would be beaten or whipped

Crocodile Tube • Put into a coffin like case with spikes like crocodile teeth. • They would put fire under the tube and heat it up but also close the tube in more and more on the victim’s body Used on thieves

The Spanish Spider • Used to mutilate a woman’s chest

Flaying Torture • Slowly with a small knife they will skin the victim • Started with the face and only did a little at a time. • They would leave the victim then come back later and do a little more.

Boiling Pot • Used to boil the victim alive

Public Torture • Used to embarrass the victim out in public

Brain Page • According to the basic definition of civilization, are the Middle Ages civilized? Why or Why not? • What has the word civilized come to mean?

Brain Page • How do torture and religion relate? Why would a simple, uneducated peasant enjoy watching someone getting tortured? (think religiously)

Brain Page • Answer the following question in your notebook • How/Why have we, as a world and society, gone from one that uses torture devices to one like today—that, in America stresses humanity? What events, inventions, etc.. have occurred to help us get where we are today? Is this progress? Why do you think some countries still use torture today? Should Torture be aloud during times of war?

Medieval Torture