Copper bull — the most terrible device for torture in the history of mankind

The copper bull is one of the most sophisticated and terrible devices for torture, created once by the Greeks at the request of the tyrant Phalaris.

The stories of this terrible creation occupy a place in the history of Ancient Greece, along with the legends of military glory, devoted love, the Argonauts and the Greek gods. What is it? Let's find out more.

The Copper bull or, as it is also called The bull of Phalaris is an ancient instrument of execution, used in the second half of the VI century BC. The creator of this device is considered to be a coppersmith from Athens Railing. The order to make a huge copper statue came to him from the Sicilian tyrant Akraganta Phalaris.

Falaris became famous as one of the most brutal rulers in history. In particular, he earned such a reputation thanks to the copper bull…

The torture weapon was a life-size hollow bull statue made entirely of copper. On the side of the bull (according to another version - on the back) there was a special door, with which a person was placed inside the sculpture. Then a fire was built under the belly of the animal and the victim was slowly baked. There was no chance of getting out.

Some historians claim that the equipment was perforated in the nostrils. Thanks to this, groans and screams could be heard outside, which were more like the roar of a bull. At the same time, smoke emanated from the nose of the animal from the victim who was burning alive. It's hard to imagine how sinister this picture looked…

By a terrible irony, the first person to experience the full power of the instrument of torture was its creator — the coppersmith Railing. The man told Falarid that the internal system of pipes developed by him "will allow you to hear the screams of the victim, like a gentle melodic lowing." Then the customer wanted to test this unique acoustics and ordered to put the master inside.

There he spent some time, but managed to survive, because Falarid ordered to get the Railing and throw it off the cliff. Such was his gratitude for the work he had done.

By the way, the tyrant Phalaris was incredibly inventive in this regard. The fate of people who could not escape his trial, necessarily ended in the death penalty. They could be thrown off the rocks or sent from the mouth of Mount Etna. Later, all men, children, women, and old people who crossed his path or simply did not like him, Phalaris ordered to be burned in a copper bull.

He really liked this unusual device.

Fortunately, later, as a result of the uprising, the inhabitants managed to overthrow the cruel ruler. Guess what they did to him?

Of course, they were roasted in a copper bull.