The Helpless Human Was Forced Inside Iron Maiden
The middle ages, man-made and natural beauty are well represented in Tuscany. This is why it is so hard to conceive of some customary, rather grisly, items of that time. The Museo della Tortura in San Gimignano will offer vacationers a glimpse into medieval torture and what it was. Ironically, residing in the Torre del Diavolo (The Devil’s Tower), is in the Piazza della Cisterna, the museum or gallery has over 100 items on display. A short survey of a few of those items makes it simple to view and to understand why.
Mask of Infamy If you were found guilty of certain infractions against society in that time one of the less severe punishments of that time was the, iron mask. The full-face mask came with a pig’s snout or other animal appearance. Its effects could range from hot and uncomfortable to excruciating (when the lawmakers added inner spikes).
The Heretic’s Fork If you were judged to be a heretic by the Inquisition priest’s of that time , this iron rod called The Heretic’s Fork with forked tines at both ends would be forced upon you. There was a collar that secured the device to the neck, while the forks made contact under the chin and on the chest. The device never penetrated vital organs, but the severe pain would last for hours. This seems to be a real crowd attraction at the torre del diavolo
Cat’s Paws Unlike their natural counterpart, these were made of iron. The claws could shred human flesh. Prisoner’s hands were tied together and often suspended from ropes. Torturers would then scrape bare backs, chests, legs and other areas. The pain alone was enough to cause most to faint and death often resulted from bleeding.
The Garotte Though the modern (mob) term refers to a thin wire used to slice neck arteries with a squeeze, the medieval form was much more crude and much slower. The torturer used a pole driven into the ground with a rope tied around the victim’s neck. Usually asphyxiation was only one possible problem. The spinal cord was usually crushed. Pain and death would be slow or it could be over in a moment.
The Saw This multi-purpose little tool with its serrated teeth could be used to hack off limbs or merely make cuts. However, the unfortunate object of the torture was hung upside down by the legs and the body sawed in half, starting at the groin. One could only hope the femoral artery was severed quickly, bringing an end to consciousness.
The Iron Maiden This punishment for offending society was far from the gentle image that the name might suggest. It was a large sarcophagus that could torture in multiple ways. The helpless human was forced inside iron maiden, a full-sized ‘mummy’ enclosure that happened to have spikes embedded in the interior. Closing the lid might be thought to bring instant death. However, the diabolically clever designers made certain the spikes only penetrated a little way. The victims might die of heat stroke before there was an end to his or her misery.
These displays are not for the squeamish. Euphemistically alternatively named Museum of Medieval Criminology, this gallery affords a grim look at the not-so-distant past. Many of there instruments were in use well into the 19th century.
Ted Ibougen writes articles mostly for http://www.tuscany-italy-guide.com , a web page with information about tuscany travel tips . His comments on tuscany car rental can be found on his website .
