10 Brutal Ways to Die by Torture in the Ancient World

PL they eat through anything. Thus, it comes as no great surprise that humans made a torture device out of them in the ancient world. 

 

Typically, a rat was placed inside a small cage positioned against the victim’s abdomen. The cage was heated from the outside—either by a candle, flaming stick, or hot coals—causing the rat to become agitated. So, how could it escape? By clawing its way into the only available soft surface—human skin. Quite quickly, the rat would gnaw its way into the victim’s bowels, eliciting unbearable agony in the process. This technique effectively got information out of prisoners and played on their psyches, adding a psychological element to the torture.

8. The Rack: Stretching the Body


Another brutally famous torture device in the ancient world was the rack. It involved a table, usually wooden, with axles and levers at both ends. The victim was forced to lay down, after which leather straps/belts bound their wrists and heels. The straps had chains or ropes tied to them, which wound over the axles. One or several torturers would then slowly push the levers, causing the axle(s) to rotate and produce tension in the chain(s). This caused the straps to dig into the prisoner’s skin and gradually stretched their body outwards.
7. Keelhauling: Dragged Under

was practically 100 percent. If the person did not drown, they suffered severe head trauma from repeatedly smacking against the keel, as well as deep lacerations from the barnacles and other aquatic growth present on the hull. If they survived and were hauled back on board, death would most likely still result from wound infections.

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