5 Gruesome Ancient Torture Techniques
Hi!
Here is your weekly dose of “Everything Strange,” literally a list of everything strange happening around us. So let’s start with
Today's Strange History (August 19, 2020)
Salem Witch Trials: Exactly 328 years ago today in 1692, 5 more people were hanged for witchcraft (20 in total) in Salem, Massachusetts
Epidemic: In 1793, yellow fever epidemic began in Philadelphia. Then the US capital registered its 1st fatality. It lasted till November killing around 5,000 people.
Eclipse: Today in 1887, chemist and inventor Dmitri Mendeleev made a solo ascent by balloon to an altitude of 11,500 feet (3.5 km) above Klin, Russia to observe an eclipse. He is best remembered for creating the Periodic Table.
Dictator: In 1934, the German people voted to give Adolf Hitler complete power combining the positions of chancellor and president into the position of the Fuehrer.
Nazi Invasion: Exactly 79 years ago today in 1941, Germany invaded mainland Soviet Union. In the below pic, German troops crossed the border point between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941
Sanctions: In 1944, United Nations was considering what restrictions should be placed on Nazi Germany after its surrender. It was being decided that allied soldiers would occupy Germany as long as the youth needed to be re-educated in democracy and anti-Nazi thinking. Holland, Denmark, Belgium, and France would keep all Nazi military equipment and guard Germany from starting war again. Also, the goods stolen by the Nazis were to be returned and the Jews compensated for their losses.
Coup: Today in 1953, the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown in a coup orchestrated by the United Kingdom (under the name 'Operation Boot') and the United States (under the name TPAJAX Project) to reinstate the Shah of Iran.
Peace: In 1988, Iran-Iraq began a cease-fire in their 8-year-old war (11 PM EDT)
Earth: 6 years ago, today in 2014 NASA satellites published photos showing that for the first time the eastern basin of the Aral Sea had had completely dried up. In the below pic, the Aral Sea in 1989 (left) and in 2014 (right)
What is today?
Today i.e. 19th August is
🥔 Potato Day
✈️ Aviation Day
📷 Photography Day
🕊️ Humanitarian Day
🎀 International Bow Day
🍌 International Orangutan Day
Strange Case of the day: 5 Gruesome Ancient Torture Techniques
5. Heretic's Fork
Heretic's Fork was a torture device, loosely consisting of a length of metal with two opposed bi-pronged "forks" as well as an attached belt or strap. One end of the device was pushed under the chin, the other to the sternum, and the strap was used to secure the victim’s neck to the tool while the victim was hung from the ceiling or somehow suspended so that they could not sleep. If their heads dropped, the prongs would pierce their throat and chest.
4. The Judas Cradle
This Italian invention was also called as the Judas Chair. Using ropes, the victim would be lowered above the pyramid-shaped "seat" with the point inserted into the anus or vagina. Victims would be tortured by intense pressure and stretching, resulting in permanent damage. In many cases, the victim would succumb to torn muscle tissues that would later become infected. Weights would be added to facilitate the effect, often resulting in death.
3. Saw Torture
Death by sawing was a form of torture or execution technique in which a living person was sawed in half, either longitudinally or transversely, through the central body mass. This was done either by sawing the individual in half across or along the body length.
2. Coffin Torture
The victims were placed inside a caged coffin, rendering them completely immobile. The period of time was determined by the type of crime; but it had some exceptions like blasphemy, which was punishable by death. Victims were often put on public display, where they would be mocked and abused by angry locals.
1. Breast Ripper
Also known as the Iron Spider, it was mainly used on women who were accused of adultery, self-abortion, heresy, blasphemy, or accused of being witches. It was also used for interrogations. The device, often heated during torture, contained 4 "claws" which were used to slowly and painfully rip off the breasts. The instrument would be latched onto a single breast of the woman. Blood sometimes splattered onto her children. If the woman did not die, she would be disfigured for the rest of her life.
So will end today’s strangeness here. As always, please give me feedback on email. What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions? Let me know! Just email me at StrangeButTrue@substack.com
Thanks for reading! Everything I write here is completely for free, just out of my love for researching history, crime, criminals & the paranormal. It would mean a lot to me if you could share this with 1 of your friends; an Instagram or Whatsapp share works too. Bye, talk to you on Saturday.