Breaking wheel

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Breaking wheel

The breaking wheel, also known as the Catherine wheel or the wheel of torture, was a method of capital punishment used in Europe from antiquity into the early modern period. The device was used to execute criminals by breaking their bones and bludgeoning them to death.

History

The breaking wheel was first documented in ancient Greece and Rome, where it was used to punish slaves and criminals. It became more widespread during the Middle Ages and was particularly prevalent in France, Germany, and the Holy Roman Empire. The method was often reserved for those convicted of serious crimes such as murder, treason, and blasphemy.

Method of Execution

The condemned person was typically tied to a large wooden wheel. The executioner would then use a heavy iron bar or hammer to break the person's limbs, starting with the legs and moving upwards. The broken limbs were often woven through the spokes of the wheel, and the person was left to die a slow and painful death, sometimes lasting several days. In some cases, the wheel was hoisted onto a pole to display the body as a warning to others.

Cultural Significance

The breaking wheel became a symbol of martyrdom and suffering in Christianity. Saint Catherine of Alexandria is often depicted with a breaking wheel, as she was said to have been sentenced to die by this method. However, according to legend, the wheel broke when she touched it, and she was subsequently beheaded.

Abolition

The use of the breaking wheel began to decline in the 18th century as more humane methods of execution were developed. It was officially abolished in France in 1789 during the French Revolution, and other countries followed suit in the subsequent decades.

Related Pages

• Capital punishment
• Torture
• Saint Catherine of Alexandria
• Middle Ages
• Holy Roman Empire
• French Revolution