Go Inside The Most Horrific Medieval Torture Devices, From The Judas Cradle To The Breaking Wheel

Published September 8, 2024
Updated November 4, 2024

Medieval Torture Devices: Inside The Chilling Practice Of “Immurement”

Immurement Medieval Torture Device

Public DomainA depiction of immurement being used against a nun.

Similar to the oubliette, the next medieval torture device on our list did not involve ropes, sharp objects, or bloodshed. But immurement was still a torturous way to die. It involved entombing someone alive.

This torturous practice actually dates back to Roman times, when it was used against Vestal Virgins who broke their vow of celibacy. Because it was forbidden to spill the blood of a Vestal Virgin, they were often entombed alive in a tiny vault and left to slowly die of starvation.

The chilling torture method was carried into the Middle Ages. Nuns and priests who broke their vows of chastity or expressed heretical ideas were sometimes sealed into a small room. Often, they were given food and allowed to survive in the tiny room, albeit not usually for very long.

The Immured

Public DomainA 19th-century painting entitled “The Immured.”

Curiously, there may be a potential link between immurement and “London Bridge Is Falling Down.” In the 19th century, an author noted that one version of the rhyme includes the stanza: “Take the key and lock her up/Lock her up, Lock her up/Take the key and lock her up/My fair lady.”

The author suggested that this stanza hints at the immurement of someone to “bless” the London Bridge and ensure that it would never collapse. However, there is no strong evidence that this actually happened.

In any case, immurement was practiced across different times and different cultures. As a medieval torture device, it was an efficient way to drive someone mad, just like the infamous oubliette.

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All That's Interesting
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Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
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Maggie Donahue
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Maggie Donahue is an assistant editor at All That's Interesting. She has a Master's degree in journalism from Columbia University and a Bachelor's degree in creative writing and film studies from Johns Hopkins University. Before landing at ATI, she covered arts and culture at The A.V. Club and Colorado Public Radio and also wrote for Longreads. She is interested in stories about scientific discoveries, pop culture, the weird corners of history, unexplained phenomena, nature, and the outdoors.