The Horror of the Past: Murder Devices Part 2

Yesterday I promised you guys that I would come up with part 2 of horrible killing devices back in the old days (read part 1 of this post if you haven't), and here is the promised result. Last post we did "formal" murder contraptions, which is really another word for machines used for public executions. Now we are doing "informal" murder items, which are easily purchased back in the day. Without further ado, let's start the list...

THE IRON MAIDEN
(Not to be confused with the band) In this monstrous device, the victim is locked inside and forgotten. Now these procedures may get a bit deceiving, maybe a bit boring. But when you look at the item used to put the victim in, you'll feel more sorry for the chosen person. A LOT more sorry.

Get the picture? Now repeat that boring old procedure, only with the Iron Maiden: Put victim in, forget about him. I told you you'll be sorry for the poor guy in this thing. Even worse, the Iron Maiden's spikes are placed in strategically painful places. For example the spikes weren't so long, so it'll stab the victim and allow him/her to bleed to death. There are also spikes specifically directed to pierce the eyes.

THE THUMBSCREWS
Now I told you readers that this post will be about murder devices, but just for the sake of giving you additional information, I've decided to make an exception. Welcome the thumbscrews. Definitely more of a torture than an execution device, it doesn't take a genius to figure out how to work this machine. Observe:

I sincerely apologize if the design wasn't as practical as you expected, but I guarantee you it's still extremely painful. Chances are that if you try this on a person he'll probably say more vulgar things than "SCREW you!"

That should be the end of the medieval torture weapons. I'm sorry if you readers didn't see as much machines as you expected, but I'll gladly find out about more if you want.