12 Most Unbelievably Cruel Torture Devices in History

[Unknown Beatle]

The Rack

Many believe the rack to be one of the most painful forms of torture as it was constructed to dislocate all the joints in the victim's body. The device was made of a wooden frame with rollers at either end. The victim was stretched across with their hands and feet tied with rope at either end. Then a handle was used to crank the rollers so that the victim was pulled slowly in opposite directions until their joints were dislocated.


Rat Torture

This particularly gruesome torture method involved strapping a cage full of rodents to the victims stomach. The cage would then be heated, causing the rats to go into a frenzy and try to burrow their way out through the victim's body.


The Head Crusher

The head crusher was a popular torture method during the Inquisition. It consisted of a metal cap affixed with a compression mechanism. The torturer would slowly crush the victims head, shattering the teeth, crushing facial bones and popping the eyes from their sockets before death occurred.


The Brazen Bull

The Brazen Bull or "Sicilian Bull" was popular in ancient Greece. The victim was put into a hollow bull made of brass and a fire was lit underneath. The metal would become extremely hot and the victim would literally roast to death. Even more unsettling was the fact that the bull was designed to amplify the sounds of the agonizing screams coming from within to sound like the bellow of an animal.

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What is wrong with humanity that it would invent devices to inflict great pain onto another human. I really thought we had gone beyond torture into more civilized modes of interrogation, but bush and cheney proved me wrong. Only evil beings would ever think of torturing others and I can guarantee that the people that ordered torture and the torturers themselves took great pleasure in seeing and hearing people in great pain. I can just picture cheney squealing in delight when hearing news about torture taking place in his name.

[Scootaloo]

1. Some are literally unbelievable

Both the iron maiden and the "pear of agony" - and I think that head crusher as well - were inventions of the Victorian era, devised not to actually be used, but as "examples" of the barbarity of earlier eras, as a combination titilation and self-affirmation of hte Victorian level of civilization.

[Jenoch]

2. If anyone finds themselves in Bavaria,

I recommend a visit to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and their Torture Museum.

http://www.history-of-germany.com/?scid=rothenburg_torture&

[moondust]

8. In London, it's the Tower of London.

http://www.destinations-uk.com/articles.php?country=wales&id=58&articletitle=Torture+at+the+Tower+of+London

[TreasonousBastard]

9. I have been there several times, and with or without...

that museum, the town is an extraordinary place.

Another museum of past horrors is in Edinburgh. I was alone the day i went there, and it was a very spooky place.

[cwydro]

3. Hey, it's just patriotism.

Right?

[WillyT]

4. Yep... The Killer Apes Are Definitely Resourceful...

[jberryhill]

5. Surprised bagpipes didn't make the cut

[Unknown Beatle]

7. Wait a gosh durn minute.

I love the sound of bagpipes. I guess that one persons' music is another persons' torture.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. The Tatoo might cure you of that.

[daleo]

14. Yeah, 'cause torture is funny and is ok to trivialize

[philosslayer]

6. Good thing Bush and Cheney weren't aware of this

n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Of all these fearsome instruments, there was one that was FAR worse. One whose jagged rusty edges

and sharp, vicious pointy shards were used with ruthless medieval effectiveness by the inquisitors, to extract all manner of desperate confessions from their poor, miserable victims.

[Unknown Beatle]

12. Now that is cruel.

I clicked on the link and now I won't be able to sleep for a few nights.

[madokie]

13. That should really come with a warning

my eyes, my ears. I'll never be the same. My only chance is I got to the off button quick enough. its going to be hell to pay for a while cleansing my soul even though