During the 5th to 15th centuries A.D or
the Medieval Ages, several tools, weaponry, and simple machines were
discovered and invented. It was also the period were major improvements
in technologies occurred, as well as the adoption of interesting Eastern
inventions in the West. The following is a list of 7 weird and
interesting medieval inventions that some people assume to be fictional.
1. The Rack
The rack came in a number of forms,
although there is one concept in this strange invention during the
medieval times. This type of tool aims to torture criminals, and the
victim is securely tied down on it while a turning wheel causes the rope
to tighten and stretch the person’s body until all the joints are
dislocated. With continued pressure on the victim’s body, the limbs
eventually tear off and cause the person to suffer a gruesome death.
Moreover, this odd invention was used in conjunction with other tools
that could torture a person even more such as by lighting a fire beneath
the wheel of the rack.
2. Brazen Bull
This form of torture depicts a hollow
brass statue that resembles a bull. A person is then placed inside this
small chamber after their tongues are cut. Next, the door is shut, thus
sealing the victim inside the brazen bull. Fires are lit around this
statue, which causes the victim to succumb to the intense heat inside
and scream in agony. With the sounds and movements muted by the mass of
the bull statue, the apparatus seems quite alive – like a real bull. The
effect of this tool served as a form of amusement for the people
watching this morbid act, and it added the benefit of preventing them
from seeing directly the brutality of this torture.
3. Iron Maiden
This device was thought to be fictional
because of its odd appearance, yet it was one of the common tools used
in torturing victims during the Dark Ages. The Iron Maiden is an upright
sarcophagus, which has spike strategically positioned on the inner
surface. There are double doors found on the front portion of the
device, which serves as the entrance for victims. In some models, there
are 8 spikes protruding from one of the doors and 13 from the other.
After placing the person inside, both doors are shut and this causes
vital organs to be pierced because of the spikes. However, the spikes
were quite short, which does not kill the victim instantly. The tortured
person has to suffer for hours and bleed to death while inside the
device.
4. The Man Catcher
This form of pole weapon has two prongs
with a semicircular shape, and there is a spring-loaded trap found on
the front portion. The man catcher was a rather odd, yet fascinating
invention as it was intended to be used in grabbing a person from
horseback. This tool also played a significant part in the Medieval
technique of capturing royalties or enemies for ransom. In addition, the
man catcher was used to hold securely and trap violent prisoners.
5. Flamethrower
The idea of throwing flames as a war
weapon was used during the Byzantine Era, which employes a device that
appeared to be a hand-held pump that is capable of shooting fire. The
weapon has a piston and siphon-hose, and once ignited, it could shoot
fire to the victim. With this powerful weapon, it is possible to kill a
whole army and ignite anything that the fire lands on.
6. Canal Lock
This invention was used locally in
Italy, and it began to spread worldwide throughout the Medieval Ages.
The locks replaced old ones that were cumbersome, extremely heavy and
inefficient. In fact, it took at least two men who shared the load to
successfully lift at least one of the locks while they fought the force
of gravity. The improved design was easier to move, more efficient, and
was capable of performing the job as it was intended. Furthermore, these
new locks created a much tighter seal each time the oncoming water hit
them.
7. Blast Furnace
This tool was used extensively in the
Medieval Europe during the 12th century. Cistercian monks were
responsible for technological advancements in the blast furnace, they
were skilled metallurgists. Researchers have discovered that each
monastery in Noraskog, a place in Sweden, had a model factory and
waterpower was capable of driving the machines of several industries
found on the floor of the blast furnace.
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