archaicwonder: Iron Maiden with inscription, dated 1593,...

archaicwonder:

Iron Maiden with inscription, dated 1593, Austria

Carved in one piece, a sarcrophagus-like hollowed tree trunk with shaped shoulders and two folding doors. There are nailed iron bands on the head with a hinged iron mask of riveted clasps with attached ears and glasses with cut out points directed inwards around the eyes, and with a long slightly curved quadrangular pointed iron spike at the level of the larynx. The doors are each mounted with seven long inward pointing quadrangular spikes. The forged, iron fittings are cut in Gothic style, with two squared hand grips having rosette shaped perforations, and four strap hinges decorated with perforations en suite with the dated inscription: “15 HAT DICH VERLASSEN / GOTT UND ERBARM 93 / SO NIM ICH DICH / IN MEINE ARM” (15 God and pity have abandoned you 93, so I take you in my arms).

According to the historian, Karl von Amira (1848-1930), although the iron maiden was an instrument of torture, it was never used as such since it served only to terrify criminals and persuade them to confess.

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