The Virgin of Nuremberg, the Rack, the Witch Chair, shameful masks and various penitential robes are just a part of shocking, yet interesting, exhibits on display at the latest exhibition of Zagreb's Archaeological Museum. In case you are unfamiliar with the aforementioned names, they are all torture devices that were commonly used throughout the middle ages until the 18th century in all kinds of penal proceedings across Europe.
This travelling exhibition, entitled “Medieval Torture Devices” was organized by the Polish artist, Piotr Buczkowski. It opened to the public in late February and will remain open until June 19th. The exhibits on display include a total of 54 reconstructed torture devices and each of them, as grotesque as it may sound, can be tried out by the visitors. Despite the descriptions and illustrations of the real historic purpose that accompany each device, feeling the torture on one's own skin is a priceless experience for anyone who is truly interested in such unnerving matters.
Visitors may step into the Iron Maiden or the Virgin of Nuremberg, a coffin in the shape of a woman's body with a stylised head full of sharp daggers that inflict injury with the slightest movement. There are many other gruesome torture devices, including numerous ones with which misdemeanours were punished. For example, the iron mask called the Pig's Head, which would be fastened to the head of the accused, and left on as a reminder to others. There are also many punishing logs, which were common during the middle ages in most European cities; they were often used to torture small-time offenders such as thieves, drunks, liars and bickering women.
The exhibition is an in-depth study into the phenomenon of torture, showing it as a problem that was present in the European civilization during the middle ages, but also throughout a much later period. Nowadays, most conflicts between rulers and the general population are, thankfully, no longer being solved in such a gruelling way. Despite the fact that centuries separate us from such agony, a look at the devices might inspire a certain level of fear and paranoia in us all; of course, nowhere near the fear experienced by those who were tortured for real. This shocking exhibition has already been on show in Denmark, Lithuania, Germany, Estonia and Poland.
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