The inventor of the world’s cruellest torture device didn’t quite get the praise he was looking for
Inventors are often happy to have their creations being put to use, but the man who invented the most painful torture device in history probably didn’t think he’d be the first person to fall victim to it.
It’s safe to say that us humans have come up with some pretty horrific methods of torture over the years, though thankfully many of them have fallen out of favor over the centuries.
However, there’s one in particular that won’t be forgotten any time soon, and that’s the Brazen Bull – which is as intimidating as it sounds.
The ancient torture device was not only used to torture people, but also to bring their lives to a grisly end if those in charge felt they deserved it.
Created in the 6th century BC by a Greek inventor, the torture device was shaped like a huge bull and was hollow inside, with a trapdoor fitted into it.
I’m sure you can see where this is going…
Those being punished were locked inside the Brazen Bull, which was made of bronze, and featured a set of pipes near the mouth.
Once inside, a fire would be lit beneath the huge sculpture, effectively cooking the person alive inside.
The Brazen Bull was not a happy ending to life. (Discovery)
As a grisly finishing touch, the creator made it so the pipes on the bull transformed the victim’s agonizing screams into bellowing bull noises.
The supposed creator of the horrific device was a man named Perilaus of Athens (or Perillus), who built the Bull and presented it to Phalaris, the tyrant of the Sicilian state of Akragas.
Considering you’d have to be pretty awful to enjoy such a device, it’s safe to say Phalaris was not a nice person.
In fact, he was renowned for his cruelty, so presenting him with such a device wasn’t he best choice Perilaus made that day.
Perilaus was locked inside the Bull by Phalaris. (Discovery)
When presented with the device, Phalaris asked the inventor to get inside the bull and demonstrate how the person inside making noises would sound to everyone on the outside.
However, once Perilaus climbed inside to show how his invention worked, he was locked inside and a fire was lit beneath him.
As a result, the Brazen Bull’s inventor became its first victim – though thankfully Phalaris did have enough heart to remove Perilaus from the bull before he died.
Things quickly took a turn for the worse, however, when the tyrant had Perilaus taken to the top of a hill and thrown off to his death.
Needless to say, it probably wasn’t the praise Perilaus had been hoping for.
Featured Image Credit: Discovery
