Ten Terrible Torture Devices in History

Criminals, heretics, prisoners, traitors, and the unfortunate innocent were subjected to innovative devices designed to inflict the most agony in the most creative ways. Both women and men were tortured, and even children could become hapless victims of the torturer’s art. In some cases, whole families were tortured together. Not surprisingly, torture often ended with the victim’s death.

Torture took place in rooms specially designed and equipped for the purpose, or in a public town square. Apart from providing entertainment for law-abiding citizens, public tortures also discouraged a person from pursuing a life of crime – or at least, from getting caught.

1. The Pear

This devilish little item is on display at the Torture Museum in Amsterdam. The Pear was inserted into the mouth, anus or vagina of the unlucky victim.

Once inserted, the Pear opened and closed like a claw, forcing the orifice wide open, and ripping the flesh inside. It was used as punishment, and to obtain confessions. Victims were usually witches, homosexuals, and women accused of inducing a miscarriage.

2. Water torture

Water torture devices ranged from a simple funnel with tube, to a complex network of hoses and pumps. Tubes and hoses were inserted into the mouth and various body cavities, and the interrogators pumped water into the victim.

The stomach and other body cavities swelled to the point of bursting. This torture could go on for days.

In the developing field of science, there was great interest in the effects of torture on the human body and mind. Students of science often attended torture sessions for educational purposes.

3. Head or Limb Crusher

The head or limb crusher was another popular form of torture, and appeared in many forms, ranging from a helmet style with screws, to the spiked device shown above. The victim could hear his bones cracking as the vice tightened.

Interrogators might use this torture device in combination with other tools, such as breast-rippers and skin flayers, prods and pokers, thumbscrews, or the Pear.

4. The Saw Torture

Often, a prisoner’s torment involved watching others get tortured. The shrieks of agony, and the horrific visuals, added a depth of psychological terror to the punishment.