Post by bjorn on Dec 9, 2010 10:02:26 GMT
I think few will deny that terrible tortures has been part of Church History, at least not anyone familiar with the sources.
Still, also in this area there are myths, as we touched on in this thread jameshannam.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=history&action=display&thread=684
I have recently noticed a series of web sites, blogs and discussion foras writing on "Christian Torture Devices", e.g.
-www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2855705
-answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090506174421AAh4liA
As they seem to just copy and paste each other it is not easy to find the historical sources, however there is little doubt that a series of these alleged devices are myths.
And typically, this seems to go for the three most often mentioned:
"The Judas Cradle:
The victim is raised up by the rope or chain and then lowered until the vagina, anus or the coccyx rests on the point. The torturer could vary the pressure by hanging weights from the victim or rocking or raising and dropping the victim from various heights.
The Pope's Pears:
The vaginal pear was used on woman who had sex with the Devil or his familiars. The rectal pear was used on passive male homosexuals and the oral pear was used on heretical preachers or lay persons found guilty of unorthodox practices. Inserted into the mouth, anus or vagina of the victim, the pear was expanded by use of the screw until the insides are ripped, stretched and mutilated, almost always causing death. The pointed ends of the 'leaves' were good for ripping the throat, intestines or cervix open.
Slow Burn
A 16th century device to lift the victim in and out of the fire, roasting him alive slowly instead of burning him all at once."
And for a fourth one...
Also the Iron Maiden is a myth, even if rarely mentioned on these pages.
With so many true torture techniques, why are the mythical ones mentioned most often?
Still, also in this area there are myths, as we touched on in this thread jameshannam.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=history&action=display&thread=684
I have recently noticed a series of web sites, blogs and discussion foras writing on "Christian Torture Devices", e.g.
-www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2855705
-answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090506174421AAh4liA
As they seem to just copy and paste each other it is not easy to find the historical sources, however there is little doubt that a series of these alleged devices are myths.
And typically, this seems to go for the three most often mentioned:
"The Judas Cradle:
The victim is raised up by the rope or chain and then lowered until the vagina, anus or the coccyx rests on the point. The torturer could vary the pressure by hanging weights from the victim or rocking or raising and dropping the victim from various heights.
The Pope's Pears:
The vaginal pear was used on woman who had sex with the Devil or his familiars. The rectal pear was used on passive male homosexuals and the oral pear was used on heretical preachers or lay persons found guilty of unorthodox practices. Inserted into the mouth, anus or vagina of the victim, the pear was expanded by use of the screw until the insides are ripped, stretched and mutilated, almost always causing death. The pointed ends of the 'leaves' were good for ripping the throat, intestines or cervix open.
Slow Burn
A 16th century device to lift the victim in and out of the fire, roasting him alive slowly instead of burning him all at once."
And for a fourth one...
Also the Iron Maiden is a myth, even if rarely mentioned on these pages.
With so many true torture techniques, why are the mythical ones mentioned most often?
