Iron maiden torture device: Encyclopedia II - Iron maiden torture device - Features of the Iron Maiden

Iron maiden torture device - Features of the Iron Maiden

Iron maiden torture device - Spikes

Inside the tomb-sized container, the Iron Maiden was fitted with dozens of sharp spikes. They were designed so that when the doors were shut, the spikes skewered the victim, missing vital organs and permitting the victim to remain alive and upright. The spikes were also movable to accommodate each victim.

Iron maiden torture device - Confined space and immobility

Secondly, the condemned person was kept in an extremely confined space to maximize his level of suffering by claustrophobia. Mobility was nearly impossible, and if the victim ever were weakened by the ordeal, the piercing objects would remain in place and tear into the body even further, causing even more intense pain.

Iron maiden torture device - Doors

The third aspect of the torture device was that the iron doors of the Maiden could be opened and closed one at a time, without letting the victim get away. This was always helpful when checking on the injured party to be sure that he was sufficiently suffering or was willing to comply with the demands of his tormenter.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Features of the Iron Maiden", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki