Sunlover
04-04-2009, 01:57 AM
CHRISTIAN TORTURE TOOLS:
The Pear of Anguish
http://www.pollsb.com/photos/60/7195-existence_pear_anguish_prove_middle_ages_human_rac e_crueler.jpg
They have a bulbous shape, and curiously are ‘decorated’ with inlays of bronze or copper. There is a screw at one end, which when functioned resulted in the opening of 4 ‘petals’. The diameter of these petals was controlled by the number of turns applied to the screw device.
There were three main divisions of these ‘pears’. Their purpose was to force open the orifice into which they were inserted. Mouth pears were forced into the mouths of the accused and spread open for a variety of reasons. The result could be anything from reducing the volume of the tortured’s screams to breaking their jaws.
Rectal pears were usually reserved for punishment of homosexual men. The pear was used to tear the rectum and bring about a slow death resulting from infections of the rectum from the horrible lacerations and tears from the spreading of the pear leaves.
The final version of the pear was the vaginal pear, which was used on women accused of consorting with the devil, and having engaged in carnal activities with said devil.
The pears are the only torture device known to have been “decorated” with inlays and actually considered to be ‘beautiful’ to behold. It is doubtful however that such decorations in any way were appreciated by the victims of their use.
The Saw
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Sawinuse.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Sawactual2.jpg
The Saw was used to cut the victim, who was hung by the feet and ankles upside-down, from junction of the thighs to the chest. The reason for hanging the victim upside-down was two fold. First, this assured maximum oxygenation of the brain, and would keep the victim conscious longer. The second reason was to slow down the blood loss, again assuring that the victim remained cognizant of what was occurring for the maximum amount of time. This method of execution took two people to work the saw. Saws were common instruments of execution because they were abundant.
The Ear Chopper
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/earchopper.jpg
It was not designed to kill the victim, but rather to inflict a punishment that would mark the guilty party for life by lopping off one or both ears. The iron “cap” was fitted onto the head with the knives raised. The ears protrude through the ear holes, and the iron bands guide the blade down to slice off the ear at the scalp line.
Breast Ripper
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Breastripper.jpg
Designed to mutilate the female breast. It was clamped down over the breast and could be used either cold, or red hot, depending on the goal of the interrogator. This was primarily used on women found guilty of heresy, blasphemy, adultery, or self induced abortion.
The Iron Spiderhttp://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/IronSpider.jpg
A variation of the Breast Ripper was the Spider. This was a set of clawed bars that a woman was dragged along until her breasts were ripped off. Rippers resemble the tongs used to lift large blocks of ice. The Iron Spider had between 4 prongs and 6. It was also used to pick up and suspend victims by soft tissue, such as the buttocks, the belly, and rarely by the head.
The Cat’s Paw
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/CatsPaw.jpg
A steel bar armed with 4 – 6 sharpened “claws”, which where swiped across the naked body. These claws ripped skin, muscle, tendon, and even bone from the victim.
Head Crushers
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Museums/HeadCrusher2.jpghttp://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Museums/SkullCrusher.jpg
Head Crushers were popular methods of execution. This device consists of a lower bar where the chin rested, and an iron cap attached to a screw mechanism. The screw was slowly turned, which results in the compression of the skull. The first things to fail are the teeth, which are shattered and splintered into the jaw. Next the eye sockets fail and the eyes are squeezed from the eye sockets. Some head crushers had special receptacles to catch the eyes as they fell out of the head. Ultimately the skull fractures and the contents of the head are forced out of the broken cranium
The Pear of Anguish
http://www.pollsb.com/photos/60/7195-existence_pear_anguish_prove_middle_ages_human_rac e_crueler.jpg
They have a bulbous shape, and curiously are ‘decorated’ with inlays of bronze or copper. There is a screw at one end, which when functioned resulted in the opening of 4 ‘petals’. The diameter of these petals was controlled by the number of turns applied to the screw device.
There were three main divisions of these ‘pears’. Their purpose was to force open the orifice into which they were inserted. Mouth pears were forced into the mouths of the accused and spread open for a variety of reasons. The result could be anything from reducing the volume of the tortured’s screams to breaking their jaws.
Rectal pears were usually reserved for punishment of homosexual men. The pear was used to tear the rectum and bring about a slow death resulting from infections of the rectum from the horrible lacerations and tears from the spreading of the pear leaves.
The final version of the pear was the vaginal pear, which was used on women accused of consorting with the devil, and having engaged in carnal activities with said devil.
The pears are the only torture device known to have been “decorated” with inlays and actually considered to be ‘beautiful’ to behold. It is doubtful however that such decorations in any way were appreciated by the victims of their use.
The Saw
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Sawinuse.jpg
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Sawactual2.jpg
The Saw was used to cut the victim, who was hung by the feet and ankles upside-down, from junction of the thighs to the chest. The reason for hanging the victim upside-down was two fold. First, this assured maximum oxygenation of the brain, and would keep the victim conscious longer. The second reason was to slow down the blood loss, again assuring that the victim remained cognizant of what was occurring for the maximum amount of time. This method of execution took two people to work the saw. Saws were common instruments of execution because they were abundant.
The Ear Chopper
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/earchopper.jpg
It was not designed to kill the victim, but rather to inflict a punishment that would mark the guilty party for life by lopping off one or both ears. The iron “cap” was fitted onto the head with the knives raised. The ears protrude through the ear holes, and the iron bands guide the blade down to slice off the ear at the scalp line.
Breast Ripper
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Breastripper.jpg
Designed to mutilate the female breast. It was clamped down over the breast and could be used either cold, or red hot, depending on the goal of the interrogator. This was primarily used on women found guilty of heresy, blasphemy, adultery, or self induced abortion.
The Iron Spiderhttp://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/IronSpider.jpg
A variation of the Breast Ripper was the Spider. This was a set of clawed bars that a woman was dragged along until her breasts were ripped off. Rippers resemble the tongs used to lift large blocks of ice. The Iron Spider had between 4 prongs and 6. It was also used to pick up and suspend victims by soft tissue, such as the buttocks, the belly, and rarely by the head.
The Cat’s Paw
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/CatsPaw.jpg
A steel bar armed with 4 – 6 sharpened “claws”, which where swiped across the naked body. These claws ripped skin, muscle, tendon, and even bone from the victim.
Head Crushers
http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Museums/HeadCrusher2.jpghttp://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj171/Azjahh/Museums/SkullCrusher.jpg
Head Crushers were popular methods of execution. This device consists of a lower bar where the chin rested, and an iron cap attached to a screw mechanism. The screw was slowly turned, which results in the compression of the skull. The first things to fail are the teeth, which are shattered and splintered into the jaw. Next the eye sockets fail and the eyes are squeezed from the eye sockets. Some head crushers had special receptacles to catch the eyes as they fell out of the head. Ultimately the skull fractures and the contents of the head are forced out of the broken cranium