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Tw // Torture, gore, death, misogyny
Mediaeval era in Europe, lasting approximately 1000 years (from 5th to 15th century) was one of the most violent eras in history. This era gave rise to many torture devices.
(It can be triggering so please read at your own risk)
Mediaeval era in Europe, lasting approximately 1000 years (from 5th to 15th century) was one of the most violent eras in history. This era gave rise to many torture devices.
(It can be triggering so please read at your own risk)
Torture devices are devices specially designed to maximize pain and suffering for the victim. They were used in wars, for traitors, for criminals and for heretics, and for women accused of adultery.
Some involved gore, some didn't. This list will include both.
Some involved gore, some didn't. This list will include both.
The Brazen Bull was a hollow brass statue crafted to resemble a real bull. Victims were placed inside, usually with their tongues cut out first. The door was shut, sealing them in.
Fires would then be lit around the bull. As the victim succumbed to the searing heat inside, he would thrash about and scream in agony. The movements and sounds, muted by the bull's mass, made the apparatus appear alive, the sounds inside like those of a real bull.
Legend has it that this device was invented by a Greek named Perillus for a tyrant named Phalaris of Agrigentum. The inventor himselfbecame the first victim of Brazen Bull. Phalaris himself became an eventual victim of the bull when his subjects grew tired of his mistreatment
Blood Eagle
While the actual accuracy of this method of torture is shrouded in mystery,the blood eagle has been mentioned in Norse literature. As the torturer, you'd cut open the back of the victim and expose their lungs by twisting the ribs outwards to make them look like wings
While the actual accuracy of this method of torture is shrouded in mystery,the blood eagle has been mentioned in Norse literature. As the torturer, you'd cut open the back of the victim and expose their lungs by twisting the ribs outwards to make them look like wings
Tickle torture
In medieval China, especially during the reign of the Han dynasty, sometimes you'd have to torture someone for interrogation without actually leaving any scars.This would start out as normal tickling but then the pain that followed would be extreme.
In medieval China, especially during the reign of the Han dynasty, sometimes you'd have to torture someone for interrogation without actually leaving any scars.This would start out as normal tickling but then the pain that followed would be extreme.
The Iron Maiden
It is an upright sarcophagus with spikes on the inner surfaces. Once the victim was inside, the doors were closed. There, the strategically placed spikes would pierce several vital organs.
It is an upright sarcophagus with spikes on the inner surfaces. Once the victim was inside, the doors were closed. There, the strategically placed spikes would pierce several vital organs.
However, they were relatively short spikes, so the wounds wouldn't be instantly fatal. Instead, the victim would linger and bleed to death over several hours.
Rat torture
Tw // rats
executioners would starve some already ill-tempered rats, place them inside a cage strapped to a victims abdomen, then pull out the bottom. The rest you can probably imagine.
Tw // rats
executioners would starve some already ill-tempered rats, place them inside a cage strapped to a victims abdomen, then pull out the bottom. The rest you can probably imagine.
Pear of Anguish
The pear of anguish was a pear shaped metal device whose ends would, for lack of a better word, bloom after they were inserted in a victim's mouth, anus or vagina, causing immense pain. Sometimes, they'd even fit spikes at the end of these machines.
The pear of anguish was a pear shaped metal device whose ends would, for lack of a better word, bloom after they were inserted in a victim's mouth, anus or vagina, causing immense pain. Sometimes, they'd even fit spikes at the end of these machines.
Chinese water torture
The victim was restrained, and then little but constant droplets would be allowed to fall on a sensitive part of their head. It is said that this would apparently make the victim frantic as they would perceive a hollow being formed in spot the droplets fell
The victim was restrained, and then little but constant droplets would be allowed to fall on a sensitive part of their head. It is said that this would apparently make the victim frantic as they would perceive a hollow being formed in spot the droplets fell
The Rack
The rack consisted of a table, fitted with straps for all four limbs, which were systematically pulled in opposite directions in order to literally stretch victims until their bodies gave out.
The rack consisted of a table, fitted with straps for all four limbs, which were systematically pulled in opposite directions in order to literally stretch victims until their bodies gave out.
Breast Ripper
Breast rippers were usually made of iron and they heated before you'd use them to rip out the victim's breasts. Usually used on women who were accused of adultery and self abortion.
Breast rippers were usually made of iron and they heated before you'd use them to rip out the victim's breasts. Usually used on women who were accused of adultery and self abortion.
White torture
The victim is kept in long periods of solitary confinement in a white room without any windows. His clothes are white. He's given white food on a white plate and the guards outside wear soft footwear to muffle their sounds.
The victim is kept in long periods of solitary confinement in a white room without any windows. His clothes are white. He's given white food on a white plate and the guards outside wear soft footwear to muffle their sounds.
Ebrahim Nabavi, an Iranian journalist who was subject to this kind of torture, said -
Since I left Evin, I have not been able to sleep without sleeping pills. It is terrible. The loneliness never leaves you, long after you are "free." Every door that is closed on you ...
Since I left Evin, I have not been able to sleep without sleeping pills. It is terrible. The loneliness never leaves you, long after you are "free." Every door that is closed on you ...
They get what they want without having to hit you. They know enough about you to control the information that you get. You begin to break. And once you break, they have control. And then you begin to confess.
Bamboo torture
A restrained victim would be made to sit on a bamboo sapling. Bamboo grows really fast. In this case, the sapling would tear the anus and continue its journey inside the victim's body. Poor victim. Poor bamboo.
A restrained victim would be made to sit on a bamboo sapling. Bamboo grows really fast. In this case, the sapling would tear the anus and continue its journey inside the victim's body. Poor victim. Poor bamboo.
Catherine Wheel
In this device, the tourture-ee in question would have their limbs tied to the spokes of a giant wheel, which would rotate until the bones broke.The wheel would be placed up in the air, so the victim could have their severed limbs eaten by the birds.
In this device, the tourture-ee in question would have their limbs tied to the spokes of a giant wheel, which would rotate until the bones broke.The wheel would be placed up in the air, so the victim could have their severed limbs eaten by the birds.
The saw
Tw // gore
This one is really scary
The victim would be held upside down, allowing the blood to rush to their head, and then the torturer would slowly start slicing them between their legs.
(Not including pic)
Tw // gore
This one is really scary
The victim would be held upside down, allowing the blood to rush to their head, and then the torturer would slowly start slicing them between their legs.
(Not including pic)
Judas Cradle
Tw // gore
You'd place the waist harness (attached to the ropes) around the victim and then slowly lower him/her onto the pyramid shaped seat with the pointy top inserted into their anus or vagina. The victim would eventually be impaled.
Tw // gore
You'd place the waist harness (attached to the ropes) around the victim and then slowly lower him/her onto the pyramid shaped seat with the pointy top inserted into their anus or vagina. The victim would eventually be impaled.
The stake
it's a very simple process -- create a pile of dry wood with a stake at the center to tie the victim to, and then light it. The fire does all the work. It usually took about a half an hour before the victim lost consciousness.
it's a very simple process -- create a pile of dry wood with a stake at the center to tie the victim to, and then light it. The fire does all the work. It usually took about a half an hour before the victim lost consciousness.
Both women and men accused of witchcraft were burned at the stake in England, France and other locales well into the 17th century
The pillory
It was not fatal. A pillory is a set of two parallel wooden boards clasped together, with holes for the neck and wrists. When opened, the victim places his or her head and arms through the holes. Then the pillory is closed, and the victim can't possibly escape
It was not fatal. A pillory is a set of two parallel wooden boards clasped together, with holes for the neck and wrists. When opened, the victim places his or her head and arms through the holes. Then the pillory is closed, and the victim can't possibly escape
Four English men who had falsely accused others of crimes to get the reward were beaten to death by the crowd. Others who won the crowd's favor by refusing to pay unjust taxes or mocking government officials were showered with flowers or rescued from the pillory outright
Want to read about torture methods used in India particularly by the Mughals? That one is going to be really really long story.
