Ancient Greek Torture Methods

During the ancient Greek period in time, it was the beginning of the age of culture. Art, theater, music, and architecture was beginning to take a grip on life. But while this was happening, there was a darker side to Greek life. Well, technically to Greek death. With a unique culture, you have very (and I mean VERY unique ways to kill and torture a person).

The first of these few is probably one of the more commonly known execution methods of the ancient world, the Brazen Bull. The way it worked was there was a large bull, made of pure bronze, with a small hatch on one side. The condemned would then be shoved inside the bull through the hatch, and have it latched shut. A fire would then be lit from underneath the bull, heating the bronze to a considerable temperature. The condemned would literally be roasted alive while inside the bull. The design of the bull was also made so that the victims screams would echo within the bull, making the sound of an angry bull. The Brazen Bull was designed by the Athenian Perillos under instruction from the king Phalaris. According to legend, when somebody was to die within the Brazen Bull, and it was reopened, the victims scorched bones "shone like jewels and were made into bracelets". When Perillos finished the bull and presented it to Phalaris, Phalaris was curious on how the sound mechanism worked. Perillos, eager to show the king his creation, climbed inside of the bull to show him. But before he could react, the latch was closed and a fire set underneath him, so that Phalaris could hear his screams. But before Perillos could die within the bull, Phalaris took him out. Perillos, expecting for a reward for his invention, was instead thrown down a hill, killing him. It is said the Phalaris and his entire family were executed by the Brazen Bull when he was overthrown by Telemachus.

One other method of execution was to simply throw the condemned into a pit of spikes, or, as in the case of Sparta, into a dried out well. Yes, that scene from the movie 300 is ACTUALLY true. They ACTUALLY did SOME research and got SOMETHING right. But there's really no way to explain this. I mean, it is pretty straight forward. Pit of spikes + (Person + Gravity) = Death. That's all there is to it. Another simple one is forced suicide, usually by poison. The condemned would be made to kill themselves, as was with the case of the philosopher Socrates. Again, simple. Poison = Death, Fall on your sword = Death, Suicide = Death, and so on and so on.

Other than this, Greece didn't have too many other forms of punishment, what, compared to the Chinese and Romans. I swear, they were thinking of a new way to hurt or kill someone EVERY DAY. Either way, Greece was a civilization that brought about more in the form of art, than it did in the torture department.