Medieval Torture
Whilst I was in Prague with my brother, we found some rather intriguing and gruesome medieval torture instruments.
I've posted some pictures of a few of them below...
Prague - Medieval Torture Instruments

I would assume these chairs were for interrogation of some kind. OUCH!

Whilst I was in Prague with my brother, we found some rather intriguing and gruesome medieval torture instruments.
I've posted some pictures of a few of them below...
Prague - Medieval Torture Instruments


I would assume these chairs were for interrogation of some kind. OUCH!

Prague - HeartofEurope.cz
The Head Crusher
This device dates from the Medieval period and seems to have been highly respected, especially in the area of northern Germany. Its function was quite simple: the victim´s chin was placed on a wooden or iron support and the device´s cap was then screwed down on the victim´s head. First, the victim´s teeth and jawbone would be crushed and eventually, as the pressure was increased, his brain tissue would actually begin to come out of his skull. With the passage of time this instrument lost its function as a tool for killing and became more widely used as an interrogation and torture device. In certain Latin American countries, a very similar device is still in use today, even though its cap and lower support are padded with a soft material that leaves no visible signs on its victims, but in any case renders them quite ready to cooperate after only a few turns of the screw.
This device dates from the Medieval period and seems to have been highly respected, especially in the area of northern Germany. Its function was quite simple: the victim´s chin was placed on a wooden or iron support and the device´s cap was then screwed down on the victim´s head. First, the victim´s teeth and jawbone would be crushed and eventually, as the pressure was increased, his brain tissue would actually begin to come out of his skull. With the passage of time this instrument lost its function as a tool for killing and became more widely used as an interrogation and torture device. In certain Latin American countries, a very similar device is still in use today, even though its cap and lower support are padded with a soft material that leaves no visible signs on its victims, but in any case renders them quite ready to cooperate after only a few turns of the screw.

Prague - HeartofEurope.cz
The Virgin of Nuremberg
The idea of mechanizing torutre was born in Germany and it was there that the „Virgin of Nuremberg“ has its origins. It got its name from the fact that its exterior resembled a Bavarian girl, and also because its prototype was constructed and first used in the underground tunnels of the secret courthouse of Nuremberg. The condemned party was closed inside the contraption where the body of the unlucky individual was pierced by sharp spikes. The spikes were positioned in a manner so that, even though they penetrated various part of the body, they did not rupture any vital organs, ensuring a long and agonizign period of suffering. The first account of an execution with the „Virgin“ dates back to 1515 and was detailed by Gustav Freytag in his book „Binder aus der deutschen Vergangenheit“ which related the punishments inflicted on a countefeiter who survived for three days inside the „sarcophagus“ amidst terrible spasms.
The idea of mechanizing torutre was born in Germany and it was there that the „Virgin of Nuremberg“ has its origins. It got its name from the fact that its exterior resembled a Bavarian girl, and also because its prototype was constructed and first used in the underground tunnels of the secret courthouse of Nuremberg. The condemned party was closed inside the contraption where the body of the unlucky individual was pierced by sharp spikes. The spikes were positioned in a manner so that, even though they penetrated various part of the body, they did not rupture any vital organs, ensuring a long and agonizign period of suffering. The first account of an execution with the „Virgin“ dates back to 1515 and was detailed by Gustav Freytag in his book „Binder aus der deutschen Vergangenheit“ which related the punishments inflicted on a countefeiter who survived for three days inside the „sarcophagus“ amidst terrible spasms.