The Spanish Donkey

This version looks like it’s been embellished, I doubt our mediaeval friends would not have gone to the trouble of adding the donkey head and reins, but it’s a thoughtful touch by the museum.

The way this torture device works is fairly simple.  The unfortunate individual would sit on the back of the donkey (whilst undressed), and weights were attached to their feet on either side.  This reconstruction (above) doesn’t reflect the actual shape too well, a more accurate version (right) would display a very sharp apex and steep sides, so that high pressure was created at the apex.  It’s said that the pressure eventually caused the body to be split in half – a most gruesome torture and ending!