...it was considered “light”

Water Torture

SALA1

In order to best carry out this form of torture, the accused was placed on a kind of "rack" that consisted, in one of its forms, of a large table with a raised center.

After tying the hands and feet of the victim to the edges of this table, the torturer proceeded with his work in one of several ways. One of these methods involved forcing the victim to swallow large amounts of water with the help of a funnel, then striking his swollen and arched abdomen repeatedly with heavy blows. Another form of water torture involved inserting a cloth tube into the mouth of the victim, forcing it as deep as possible into his throat. The tube was then filled slowly with water, swelling up and choking the victim. If that weren't enough, the tube would then be pulled violently from the victim's throat, causing internal abrasions, only to be inserted again and the process repeated. The final version uses a stream of water. In this case, the individual being tortured would be placed naked on a table and, for hours and hours, would be sprayed with a fine jet of ice cold water. It's interesting to note that this form of torture, in all of its variations, was considered "light," and any eventual confession obtained through this technique was considered by the courts to be "spontaneous" and obtained without the application of torture.
...with feet stuck in wooden logs

The Throne

SALA2

This instrument was made of a pillory-chair, sarcastically called THRONE. The victim was put upside down, with feet blocked with wooden blocks.

Such torture was a favourite one among those judges who wanted to stick to the law. In fact, the legislation that regulated the use of torture, permitted just one session during the interrogation. In spite of this, the majority of judges disregarded this rule, calling the following session just a continuation of the first one. The use of the THRONE allowed to declare just one session even if it lasted ten days. Since the prolonged use of the THRONE did not leave permanent signes on the victim body, it was very apt to a long use. It is to point out that sometimes, together with this punishment were carried out on the prisoner also the torture of water and white-irons.
... Very sharp spines fluttered the body of the unfortunate

The Virgin of Nuremberg

SALA3

The idea of mechanizing torture was born in Germany and it was there that the "Virgin of Nuremberg" has its origins.

It got its name from the fact that its exterior resembled a Bavarian girl, and also because its prototype was constructed and first used in the underground tunnels of the secret courthouse of Nuremberg. The condemned was locked up inside it, where sharp blades pierced his body. The blades were positioned in a manner so that, even though they penetrated various parts of the body, they did not rupture any vital organs, ensuring a long and agonizing period of suffering. The first account of an execution with the "Virgin" dates back to 1515 and was detailed by G. Freytag in his book "Bilder aus der deutschen vergangenheit" which related the punishments inflicted on a counterfeiter who survived three days inside the "sarcophagus" amidst terrible spasms.

List of Torture Instruments on Exhibition

1) Alsatian shoe
2) Anchor
3) Axe (two different shapes)
4) Beheading-Hangman
5) Bell collar
6) Belt of costrainament
7) Belt of costrainament with hand cuffs
8) Bock or Witches Billy Goat
9) Break knee
10) Breaking wheel
11) Breast torner
12) Collar with handcuffs
13) Double head crusher
14) Double violin
15) Fallbrett
16) Fork of the heretic
17) Frocks of penance (three different shapes)
18) Garrote
19) Godmather’s violin
20) Gridirion
21) Hand cuffs (three different shapes)
22) Hand saw
23) Head crusher
24) Hot pliers and pincers (three different shapes)
25) Impalement
26) Interrogation seat
27) Iron brands (three different shapes)
28) Iron cage
29) Iron shoe
30) Iron-gag
31) Ironboot
32) Jerking
33) Kneeler
34) Male chastity belt
35) Mask of infamy (six different shapes)
36) Mutilation of a hand (two different shapes)
37) Noisemaker’s fife
38) Oral, rectal and vaginal pear
39) Pillory
40) Prayer cross
41) Rack
42) Restraining belt
43) Scourge
44) 100% Silver chastity belt (two different shapes)
45) Skinner
46) Spanish tickle torture
47) Spiked collar
48) Schiacciatesta
49) Staircase of stretching
50) Stocks
51) Street Sweepers Daughter..
52) Sword beheading
53) Table of restraint
54) The Spanish horse
55) Throne
56) Thumbscrews
57) Two-legged case
58) "Vigil" or "Guided Cradle”
59) Violin of disgrace
60) Violin of disgrace with bell
61) Virgin of Nuremberg
62) Water torture
63) Weapons commonly used by policemen and jailers (three different shapes)
64) Wheel
65) Whipping
66) Witch’s chair

Virtual tour of the whole exhibition