The pillory is a device made of a wooden or metal framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, used during the medieval and renaissance periods for punishment by public humiliation and often further physical abuse. [1]

Medieval fines and punishment. In the Middle Ages, fines were the most common punishment for theft, and one that was not considered dishonorable. More severe cases could be punishable by flogging, the cutting off of one or both ears or a hand, or death by hanging. Even the loss of an ear made the perpetrator’s shame permanently visible.

May 17, 2024 · In this article, we will explore a collection of the most heinous medieval torture devices ever invented, starting with one whose inventor was probably sorry he came up with it. 10. The Brazen Bull punishment involved locking the …

Dec 27, 2024 · pillory, an instrument of corporal punishment consisting of a wooden post and frame fixed on a platform raised several feet from the ground. The head and hands of the offender were thrust through holes in the frame (as were the feet in the stocks) so as to be held fast and exposed in front of it.

Stocks are feet restraining devices that were used as a form of corporal punishment and public humiliation. The use of stocks is seen as early as Ancient Greece, where they are described as being in use in Solon 's law code.

Medieval Europe: During the Middle Ages, the pillory became a prominent fixture in European towns and cities. Offenders would be locked into the stocks, often placed in a central location, where they would endure public ridicule and humiliation. The severity of the punishment varied depending on the crime committed.

Dec 15, 2023 · In this article, we will explore the practical functioning, construction, objectives, and effects of the stock torture device, which was primarily intended for minor offenders during the Middle and high medieval ages.

Nov 21, 2023 · Discover the history of stocks and pillory as forms of medieval punishment for lesser crimes. Learn how these devices looked and under what circumstances they were used. Updated: 11/21/2023

Among the medieval torture devices, a medieval stocks torture device was designed for petty criminals in order to inflict public humiliation on them. It was not meant to inflict serious torture or death, although sometimes a person could die of exposure and cramps if left out for days.

In medieval Europe, with men going off to war, important keys—to doors, chests that held valuables, coffers that held the lord's seal (needed for official documents) would be left with the trusted lady of the castle, the chatelaine (from Latin castellan, the "lady of the castle").