Surviving History
The Whirly Gig
The Whirly Gig was a type of torture device that was punitive and was
contrived as a circular suspended cage-like device. The punishment was carried
out by placing the victim in the cage, then spinning it fiercely in order for
the victim to incur severe nausea. This device was used as a military punishment
and was primarily used on women.
Liar's Rack
Used as a punishment for lyin...the victim was forced to straddle a turning
cylinder. Weights were added and the spikes at the top kept the victim from
attempting to lift themselves off the device as it was spun...beating the insides
of the thighs to a pulp.
The
Tread Wheel
The Tread Wheel was essentially an everlasting staircase. It was invented for the British penal system as a measure to occupy the prisoners to which were doing hard labour. These wheels functioned as a large wheel with steps, thus forcing the prisoners to climb these steps for hours a day.
The
Halifax Gibbet
The Halifax Gibbet was a type of guillotine from Yorkshire, England which was
used for the execution of the public from the 13th to the 17th century. The
Gibbet was a device which used a heavy axe-shaped blade and was dropped from a
height of several feet in order to decapitate the head of the convicted criminal.
The persons who encountered the Halifax Gibbet were those who were thieves that
stole cloth or animals.
The Garrotte
The Garrotte is a torture device that aided in the execution of criminals. The
workings of this device were derived from driving a spike between the vertebrae
of the victim while the metal loop would hold the neck in place. This device was
intended to cause a painful and decisive death. This device was widely used
during the Spanish Inquisition with the intent to bring certain death to
heretics who confessed to their crime. For those who did not confess, they were
sent to burn at the stake. The
Garrotte was in use in Spain until 1975, when a student fell victim to the
device and was later found innocent.
The
Pillory
The Pillory was used for the public humiliation of a victim. Its intent was a form of mild punishment; however, the crowd would sometimes make it lethal. The crowd would usually throw harmless items such as vegetables, but when the offense was more serious they would throw rocks and heavy objects. The device was placed in a market place or town plaza and would last for a few hours but would carry on for days.
Thumb
Screws
The thumb screw device was used during the middle ages. The victim's fingers would be placed inside the device and slowly crushed as it was pressed down by turning the handle on the top. This method of torture was used in order to extract information from the victim. If the victim refused to speak, there were other methods to choose from.
The
Shame Flute
This device was used in order to punish bad musicians during the medieval
ages. This device was never intended to be played, however, it was meant to make
a victim of poor musicality stand out. The device was hung around the victims
neck and their fingers were then stuck through the flute making it impossible
for the victim to play. The victim was also forced into the streets where they
would have to wonder around and he or she would hit with rotten fruit and
verbally humiliated..
The
Brank
The Brank was a device that was used to humiliate women. If a woman was seen
gossiping with neighbours with the intent to offend, ridicule or lie about
someone, they would then be subjected to this torture device. The Device was a
metal type of cage that was placed around the woman's head with a piece of metal
that was put into their mouth containing small spikes or a spike wheel in order
to inhibit her speech. The woman would then be paraded around town with a bell
attached to inform the citizens of her presence. She would then be mocked and
humiliated by the persons she endangered through her gossip. The duration of
this type of torture could be a few hours to months and in some cases left to
die in the Brank.
Toe
Smasher
This device was very similar to the thumb screw device and was intended to
crush victim's toes and feet. The toes or feet would be placed in the device and
pressure would then be applied leading to the obvious misfortune.
Iron
Maiden
The Iron Maiden was a medieval torture device in Germany. It is a large human
shaped cabinet that adorned extremely sharp spikes on the inside. The victim was
places inside, and the doors would be closed slowly. This would allow for the
victim to be pierced, as the doors closed more they would then be impaled by the
spikes just enough that it would lead to intense discomfort. If the doors were
fully closed for a long enough time the victim usually bled to death if not
puncturing a lung or vital organ during the process.
The
Rack
The Rack was a torture device considered to be one of the most painful
contraptions of the medieval period. It was a wooden structure that was placed
above the ground with two ropes attached to the bottom and another two tied to a
winch at the top. The victim would be tied in with the bottom ropes tied to the
ankles and the top two tied to the wrists along with two spike rollers placed
under the back. As the winch is turned and the ropes are tightened, the victim's
bones were dislocated with a loud crack. If the torturer kept turning the body
would then be torn apart with the arms usually detaching first.
Broken
on the Wheel
This type torture was developed to make the victims limbs useless. It was a
type of torture that was reserved for the most hated criminals and capital
punishment. This device consisted of a large wooden wheel where the victim's
limbs were tied to the spokes. The wheel was then slowly revolved as the
torturer smashed the victim's limbs with an iron hammer. Once the bones of the
victim were broken, they were left to die and at times left for the birds to
feed off them high up on poles. It could take up to three days for the victim to
die.
The
Brazen Bull
The Brazen Bull was a device invented by the Greeks with the sole purpose of
execution. The Bull was built of steel with an opening where the victim would be
stuffed in the belly and locked in. A fire would then be set under the belly of
the Brazen Bull. The victim was essentially placed inside and then slowly burned
and boiled alive until reaching certain death.
Judas
Cradle
The Judas Cradle a medieval torture device that was intended for adulterers,
witches and homosexuals. The victim's anus or vagina would be placed over the
point of the pyramid-like cradle and lowered onto it by ropes. The full
intention was to stretch the orifice over a long period of time, or to slowly
impale. If the torturer wanted to gain any vital information from the victim
they would drop them onto the pyramid repetively and tie weights to them just to
inflict more pain. To add to the humiliation of the victim, they were left nude
during the process.
Head
Crusher
This torture device is quite self explanatory. The head crusher was a popular
torture method used by the Spanish Inquisition. The victims chin was placed over
the bottom bar and the head under the upper cap. The torturer would then slowly
turn the screw exuding extreme pressure. The torturer slowly turned the screw,
pressing the bar against the cap. The head was then slowly compressed, first
shattering the teeth into the jaw, then a slow death with agonizing pain. Some
variants of this device included small containers that received the eyeballs as
they were squeezed out of the victims' eye sockets.
Heretic's
Fork
The heretic's 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. As usual, this instrument didn't harm any vital points; thus avoiding
death and prolonging pain. The victim's hands were tied behind his back to
prevent any chance of escape. The Heretics Fork made speech and neck movement
almost impossible and was used after a confession to avoid hearing the victim
any further. As can be seen in the picture, a small collar supported the fork
forcing the victim to hold his head erect.
Scavenger's
Daughter
The Scavenger's Daughter was a device which was invented in England. This
device was designed to have the opposite effect to that of the rack. The body
was compressed as opposed to being stretched.
Pear
of Anguish
This brutal instrument was used to torture women who performed abortions,
liars, blasphemers and homosexuals. The 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. The device would tear the skin at the very least or expand to mutilate the
victim's orifice. It could dislocated or break the jawbones Pears of Anguish
still in existence are lavishly engraved or adorned to differentiate between the
anal, vaginal and oral pears. This torture rarely brought death, but was often
followed by other torture methods.
Iron
Boot
The boot was an instrument of torture and interrogation designed to crush
the foot and leg. The boot has taken many forms in various places and times.
Common varieties include the Spanish boot and the Malay boot. One type was made
of four pieces of narrow wooden board nailed together. The boards were measured
to fit the victim's leg. Once the leg was enclosed, wedges would be hammered
between the boards, creating pressure. The pressure would be increased until the
victim confessed or lost consciousness
Warning: Not recommended for ages 12 & under, Seniors 65+, people with sensitivity to strobe lighting, people with high blood pressure, pregnant women or scaredy cats.