by Shelly Barclay

Created on: September 13, 2009   Last Updated: June 09, 2010

Torture devices have been used for centuries as a means of punishment as well as a means of obtaining information. During medieval times, many of these devices were created solely for use on women, though some of these were also used on homosexuals. At the time torture was common practice, especially for accused witches. It was also completely legal and could be done in a public arena in several countries. Over the course of time, many devices were created and utilized for this purpose and some of them are still in use today, though they are thankfully illegal in most parts of the world. Here are some of the most popular forms of torture used on women and the devices that were used to conduct that torture.

Breast Mutilation and/or Removal

This heinous torture was done to humiliate and hurt the victim in order to extract a confession from the accused or it was used as punishment for lawbreaking. There were several devices that could be used for this form of torture, but the following two were the most frequently used.

The "Breast Ripper" is a four pointed metal claw that would be used to tear into and mutilate a woman's breast or breasts. It was also very effective at completely removing the victim's breast or breasts.

The "Spanish Spider" is very similar to the "Breast Ripper." However, it has six points rather than four. It was used in the same manner as the "Breast Ripper" as well. Both of these tools could be heated before use.

Mutilation or Destruction of the Mouth, Vagina or Anus

Torturers and executioners were very creative when it came to their craft, so there were several methods that were used to accomplish this form of punishment. However, the most popular, deadly and outright gruesome method was executed with the use of a device called "The Pear." "The Pear" was named for its shape. It is a metal device that is shaped like a pear when it is closed. Once it was inserted into the anus mouth or vagina, a screw would be turned on the end of the device, causing it to open wider and wider with every turn of the screw.

When used in the mouth, "The Pear" would destroy the victim's teeth and cause severe bleeding, often resulting in death. If the device was placed in the vagina or anus, it would tear into the tissue of the area. It was also large enough that it was capable of causing considerable damage in the pelvic cavity. If the victim did not die of blood loss or shock, they would often die of the resulting infection. Torture devices were notoriously

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