1/29 Instruments of Christian Inquisition
In Christianity non-believers (non-Christians) and heretics (who have renounced Christianity) are the worst of the creatures. They were tortured by the Church in history. This thread talks of the tools used for this torture.
#Christmas
2/29 The Thumbscrew
Used to twist around the thumb of the poor non-Christian or heretic, to make them confess in pain.
The process of punishing and 'trying' the heretics was called the Inquisition - "Trial and Assessment of the Heretics".
3/29 The Headscrew
The victim of the Christian Inquisitors would have to wear this on his head and the screw would be tightened, making him scream in pain.
Christian saints from Dominicans and Jesuits, and Church officials were the ones who worked as Inquisitors.
4/29 The Shin Crusher
Used to crush the shin of the victim.
Pagan women or Christian women trying local medical remedies were accused as witches and 'tried' about their 'faith' by Church officials in Inquisition tortured like this.
5/29 The Head Crusher
This instrument would be used to crush the head of the non-Christians or heretics.
Greatest crime for fundamentalist Christians was 'unbelief' which meant not considering Christianity to be the only true religion. This 'crime' resulted in being tortured.
6/29 Ear-Cutting Set
Used by Christian Inquisitors to cut the ears of unbelievers.
Inquisition, the 'trial of unbelief in Christianity' was instituted by the highest authorities including the Pope and sacred institutions in Christianity like Dominicans & Jesuit orders of monks.
7/29 The Stocks - For Burning Feet
Victims were accused of imaginary crimes like sleeping with the Devil and they were forced to 'confess' under great torture.
The more the victims resisted, the more it was thought that they were the disciples of the Devil.
8/29 The Stocks - For Burning Feet - another picture
That the victims were innocent never crossed the minds of the Christian Inquisitors. Because Christian prophecies weren't coming true, they were convinced it had to be the heretics preventing it.
9/29 Spanish Boot
Victims would be made to wear it and then boiling hot oil or water would be poured in them to burn them.
This is how the Church would treat its religious minorities, atheists and others.
10/29 Spanish Collar
This collar would be wrapped around victim's neck and then tightened to strangle and bleed.
Spanish Inquisition was one of the most dangerous of all.
11/29 Spanish Chair
Victims would be made to sit on this chair to make them suffer and 'confess'.
The 'trial' would consist of 'Accusation', 'Trial', 'Confession', 'Punishment'.
12/29 Iron Mask
Iron Mask with Funnel for pouring hot oil into the mouth of the victim
This is how 'others' are treated in Christianity.
13/29 The Rack
Victims would be tied on this and levers turned to gradually break his body.
14/29 The Rack - Real Picture from the Museum
15/29 Breaking Wheel
Victims would be put on this rack and a wheel passed over it while they are tied to it, to break their bones.
16/29 Breaking Wheel
Another version of the breaking wheel gives the opportunity to break the bones of the victims in many different ways.
17/29 The Ladder Rack
The ladder has moving horizontal parts which would make the victim tied to it slide down, breaking his or her arms.
18/29 Burning at the Wheel
For slow roasting the victims... yes, we are talking about human beings who fell victim to the faith of the Only True God.
19/29 Quartering Machine
Victims would be tied to this and the moving limbs would be moved in opposite directions to break the limbs of the victims.
20/29 Judas Cradle
Victim would be gradually dropped on this instrument of torture with the sharp end hurting his rear parts.
21/29 The Pendulum
To twist the body of the victim in opposite ways.
22/29 Heretic's Fork
To torture the victim in the neck.
23/29 The Breast Ripper
24/29 Pear of Anguish
To be inserted in private parts and then bursting it open.
25/29 Pear of Anguish
26/29 The Iron Maiden
This would be used to encase female victi
27/29 The Source
All the pics and the information has been taken from the book 'Thumbscrew and the Rack' written by George MacDonald.
29/29 Most of these pics can be found on Alamy too and various other internet sources. Wikipedia also gives the same information about thumbscrew and many other of these instruments.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.