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Some instruments of torture, like the rack, were real. Others were likely made up to help perpetuate the myth of the medieval ‘Dark Ages.’

Throughout history, people have used torture devices to punish their enemies and those accused of crimes. They’ve also used torture as a means to elicit confessions or convince a victim to give up other people’s names, despite the fact that torture doesn’t produce reliable information. (This is not a new finding; it’s something even Napoleon Bonaparteobserved.)

Yet sometimes, people looking toward the past have let their imaginations run away with them when it comes to torture. Ancient Greek historians have passed down some fantastic tales that they may not have intended readers to take literally. In addition, people in the modern era have accused medieval Europeans of using gruesome torture devices that probably didn’t exist at the time, perpetuating the myth of a less-than-civilized so-called “Dark Ages.” Here are some famous torture devices from history, both real and legendary.

1.

The Brazen Bull

The brazen bull is an ancient mythical torture device supposedly used by Phalaris, a tyrant who ruled a part of Sicily in the 6th century BCE. It consisted of a life-size bronze bull that was hollow on the inside and had a door on the outside. The torturer would place a victim inside and light a fire under the bull. The fire would roast the victim to death, while an acoustic system on the bull made the victim’s screams sound like bull noises to those on the outside.

The story of Phalaris and the brazen bull comes from the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, who lived about 500 years after these events had supposedly taken place. The story, which Italian poet and philosopher Dante referenced in the Inferno, is likely a myth or at least highly embellished.

2.

The Iron Apega

One of the more fantastical tales of a torture device is the Iron Apega, also known as the Apega of Nabis. The ancient Greek historian Polybius wrote that the Spartan king Nabis, who ruled from 207 to 192 BCE, built a sort of torture robot that resembled his wife, Apega.

Polybius wrote that whenever Nabis was trying to collect taxes from someone who refused to pay, the king would invite the person to hug his wife, and point the person toward the robot. When the person embraced the robot, it would draw in its arms, crushing the victim with iron hooks hidden under its clothes. However, scholars have suggested that Polybius’ story of the tax-collecting torture robot was allegorical, and that the Iron Apega did not really exist.

3.

The Rack

The rack was a torture device used at the Tower of London, a royal palace that also served as a prison. Starting in the 15th century, the yeoman warders who worked at the tower used the rack to pull on ropes tied to a victim’s wrists and ankles. This stretched the body and dislocated the victim’s joints.

Yeoman warders used the rack on people suspected of treason and religious heresy to try to get them to confess and give up the names of other “conspirators.” One famous victimwas the English writer and Protestant preacher Anne Askew. In 1546, yeoman warders tortured her on the rack and asked her to name Protestant sympathizers. After she refused, officials burned her at the stake. Because the torture made her unable to walk, they had to carry her to her execution.

4.

The Scavenger’s Daughter

During the 16th and 17th centuries, yeoman warders at the Tower of London also used the scavenger’s daughter as a torture device. The scavenger’s daughter was a metal frame that compressed the victim’s body in on itself.

Compression from the scavenger’s daughter was so intense it could apparently cause the victim to start bleeding from the nose, mouth and other parts of the body. This gruesome form of torture could result in death.

5.

The Thumbscrew

Torturers used the thumbscrew, another pain-inflicting device from Europe’s early modern period (c.1450 to 1750), to crush a person’s fingers or thumbs.

Similarly to the rack, torturers employed the thumbscrew as a means of punishment and an attempt to elicit a confession. The thumbscrew was also known as a “thumbikin,” with many spelling variations.

6.

The Pear of Anguish

The pear of anguish is a device that early modern Europeans labeled as a medieval torture device. Supposedly, a torturer would insert the device into a person’s mouth, vagina or anus in order to widen the orifice, causing extreme pain. However, scholars have questioned whether these devices originated in the Middle Ages, a period that ended around 1450.

Existing examples of the so-called pear of anguish contain coiled springs, which suggests the people who crafted them lived during the early modern period that followed the Middle Ages. These examples have an unclear provenance, and there are questions about how functional they actually would have been as orifice-widening torture devices.

7.

The Iron Maiden

Another device with a sketchy provenance is the iron maiden, a mythical instrument of torture that 19th-century Europeans falsely attributed to medieval Europeans. That’s because there’s no evidence of an iron maiden—an upright iron casket with spikes on the inside—existing before the 1800s.

The myth that iron maidens existed during the Middle Ages was likely spread by German philosopher Johann Philipp Siebenkees in the late 18th century, who wrote about how a coin forger in Nuremberg was executed with one in 1515. The first known iron maidens were constructed in the 19th century, and passed off in museums as medieval torture devices.

I have to admit that these are terrifying but I do think that our justice system now are too lenient with murderers and rapists. Bring these back and maybe it would help deter those horrible humans!

Horses (Equus caballus) are large, powerful mammals known for their strength, speed, and intelligence. They have been domesticated for thousands of years and are used for riding, work, and sport. 

Key Characteristics: 

• Size and Appearance: Horses come in a variety of sizes and colors, from small ponies to large draft breeds. 
• Domestication: Horses were first domesticated around 3500 BC in Central Asia. 
• Breeds: There are numerous horse breeds, each with unique characteristics and purposes. 
• Life Cycle: Young horses are called foals, then fillies (females) or colts (males) until adulthood. 
• Wild Relatives: Przewalski’s horse is the only remaining wild horse species. 
• Evolution: Horses evolved from smaller, multi-toed ancestors over millions of years. 
• Uses: Horses are used for riding, transportation, agriculture, and various sports. 
• Symbolism: Horses are often associated with strength, freedom, and intelligence. 

Additional Information: 

• Scientific Name: Equus caballus. 
• Family: Equidae (includes horses, asses, and zebras). 
• Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates). 
• Habitat: Wild horses once roamed open areas in northern Eurasia. 
• Diet: Horses are herbivores, primarily grazing on grasses. 
• Social Behavior: Horses are social animals that live in herds. 
• Horse Protection Act: This act prohibits the practice of soring, a cruel method used to enhance a horse’s gait. 

Being around these beauties always makes me smile and find some happiness. I wish they were mine but I get to visit and give treats.

I go for a horseback ride when I have the funds which I hope to do soon! I miss my horse therapy!

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a large, carnivorous mammal and the largest member of the cat family, known for its distinctive orange fur with black stripes. They are apex predators, meaning they are at the top of their food chain, and are found in various habitats across Asia. 

Key Characteristics: 

• Appearance:Tigers have a powerful, muscular body, a large head and paws, and a long tail. Their fur is typically orange with black stripes, though some subspecies have paler fur or are almost white with dark brown stripes. 
• Size:Tigers are the largest of the big cats, with males generally larger than females. 
• Habitat:They inhabit a variety of environments, including forests, grasslands, and swamps, from the Russian Far East to Southeast Asia. 
• Diet:Tigers are carnivores, primarily hunting large ungulates like deer and wild boar, but they may also consume other animals like monkeys, buffalo, and even crocodiles. 
• Behavior:Tigers are solitary and territorial animals, marking their territory with urine. They are also known for their excellent swimming ability. 
• Conservation Status:Tigers are classified as endangered, facing threats from poaching, habitat loss, and habitat fragmentation. 

Subspecies: 

Tigers are traditionally classified into nine subspecies, though some recognize only two, mainland Asian tigers and the island tigers of the Sunda Islands. 

Interesting Facts: 

• Tigers are ambush predators, relying on stealth and strength to hunt. 
• Their striped coats provide camouflage, helping them blend into their surroundings. 
• Tigers have powerful teeth and jaws, and their long tails help them maintain balance. 
• They are known to consume large amounts of meat in one sitting. 
• Tigers are skilled swimmers and may even hunt in the water.

These aninals are so majestic and beautiful! It is such a sad world that the majority are in captivity due to poachers killing them.

I love the sanctuaries that are caring for and keeping these beauties safe and healthy!❤️

Went to the faire with my husband, daughter and her fiance yesterday.

It was alot of fun but it was hot!! My daughter and I were dressed in layers as elves and we were roasting lol!

It was so worth it though! It is a fun and whimsical place to visit. It was pirate’s weekend which I now know is the busiest weekend….will not go to that one next time!

They have such wonderful shops with all different types of wares..such as mugs, jewelry, daggers and swords, and clothing like corsets, skirts and dresses, pants, purses! Let’s just say that you could shop until you drop!

We watched one of the jousting shows and it was amazing! I love the horses…so beautiful! It was fun to immerse yourself in this fun event.

They are a little pricey so make sure to prepare your budget before you attend.

I am attaching some photos!

Immerse yourself into the Renaissance! Have fun dressing up as something else for the day and enjoy seeing what everyone else changed themselves into!

I plan on going again next year and I can’t wait!

I decided to get my hair done at a salon to bring it back to life.

I used to do it more often but with financial issues couldn’t do anymore.

But I was able to save and thought ‘why not?’

So I did!