Brazen bull

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Brazen Bull

The Brazen Bull, also known as the Bronze Bull, was an ancient Greek torture and execution device designed in the form of a bull. The device was made entirely out of bronze, hollow, with a door on one side. Victims were placed inside the bull, and a fire was set under it, heating the metal until the person inside was roasted to death.

History

The Brazen Bull is attributed to Perillos of Athens, a Greek sculptor and inventor, who proposed its creation to Phalaris, the tyrant of Akragas in Sicily, around 560-554 BC. According to historical accounts, Perillos was the first to be subjected to his own invention, as Phalaris wanted to test the device.

Design and Function

The bull was designed with a complex system of tubes and stops that converted the victim's screams into sounds resembling the bellowing of an infuriated bull. The smoke from the burning body would rise through the bull's nostrils, adding to the horrifying spectacle.

Cultural Impact

The Brazen Bull has been referenced in various historical texts and has become a symbol of cruelty and tyranny. It is often cited in discussions about ancient methods of torture and execution.

Related Pages

• Torture
• Execution
• Ancient Greece
• Phalaris
• Perillos of Athens