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The Judas Cradle, also known as the Judas chair and The Guided Cradle, was an alleged torture device. In Italian it is the culla di Giuda; in German the Judaswiege; and in French the la veille—"the wake" or "nightwatch" (because when certain muscles are contracted, the victim could not fall asleep).
Contents
Uses
The victim would presumably be placed in the waist harness above the pyramid-shaped seat, with the point inserted into their anus or vagina, then very slowly lowered by ropes. The subject is tortured by intense pressure and stretching of the orifice, eventually succumbing to tears in muscle tissue that could turn septic and kill from infection, or simply being impaled.
Related devices
A similar device, known as a horse, is sometimes said to have been used in Prussia to discipline soldiers. This device was not designed to break the skin but instead cause damage to the genitals.