Highlights from the Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber:
Laws, rules and regulations have always endeavored to secure public order and provide society with ordinances to make life together possible. How different these rules were and what practical results they had on people, in Germanspeaking Europe between the 12th and 19th century, are comprehensively documented in 2 buildings, on the 6th floors and in over 130 showcases of the Medieval Crime Museum.
Abundant displays of shame punishments such as, neck violins, shame masks and drunkards tanks reprimanded gossips or quarrelsome folk. Torture instruments, the execution corporal punishments or death penalties are demonstrative of another inhumane quality. These examples make it obvious to us how different ruling conceptions were, at the beginning early modern times, concerning human dignity and rights.
Numerous displays, original prints by masters such as Albrecht Durer, Goya, Baldung Grien and Rembrandt. As well as, original documents, seals and law books from the 13th-19th centuries show, in an unprecedented manner, the development of law in past centuries.
In addition, the origin and symbolism of proverbs with juridical background. By all means, caricatures depicting juridical scenes are included in the exhibition of the Medieval Crime Museum in the heart of the medieval city, Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
(Description from the visitor booklet)
Woodcut etching from: Praxis rerum criminalium.
Joos de Damhouder, Antwerp1554.
Illustration depicting water torture commonly practiced in France and Spain where water, usually holy water, was poured down the throat of the person bound to the bench.
Woodcut etching from the dissertation:
Christian Ullrich Grupen, De applicatione tormentorum
(about the application of torture instruments) Hannover, 1754
Collection of torture-methods commonly used in the 18th century.
Shown here: instruments to crush fingers, thumbs and legs.
Leg screw
Copperplate etching from: Constitutio Criminalis Theresiana
Graphic instructions for correct use of thumbscrews, to prevent misuse by officials.
head clamp and hearts...
Justice
France, 1st part of the 18th century
Justice
Germany, around 1600
Justice
Germany, 1741
Justice
with scale
Medieval German love poetries, 13th century:
This is an illustration of a fellow who had to wear this neck piece because
he was charged of cheating in a card game.
Double Neck Violin
For quarrelsome women. Also quarrelsome couples were punished in
the same manner until harmony was once again restored to their household.
Neck Violin from Munich
Neck Violin From Austria
(Both used to punish quarrelsome women. Original paint)
reminds me of Nancy Spero
Mask's of Shame:
17/18th century, Old Austria
Ornate mask with well preserved paint that was worn at pillory.
The glasses show the wearer seeing everything and the
tongue shows he talked about everything.
17/18th century, Old Austria
With a pig snout instead of a human mouth.
This symbolized that the person wearing it acted like a pig.
17/18th century, Old Austria
This mask has a mustache with twisted ends, horn and openings on
The sides, for the attachment of chicken feathers (symbolizing lack of sexual restrain).
On top of the mask are bells which made the public aware when they rang.
For talkative women, with a long tongue and long ears.
The bell range upon each turning of the head.
This was used for so called "blabber-mouth" women.
The long ears meant they heard everything; the glasses meant they saw everything
and the long tongue meant that they told everything as soon as it happened.
17th Century
With long trunk and big ears.
Shame Masks were put on those standing at the pillories.
They served on the one hand to elucidate the bad character
and crime of the person being punished, and on the other hand
to make him look ridiculous and to encourage the mockery of the onlookers.
In the shape of a wolves head for men who told smutty jokes
Shame Mask for men
The big nose symbolized sticking the persons nose in
other people's business. The horns showed that the wife was cheating on him
The snake and devil showed the person had very bad thoughts.
Illustration of "gossipy" women wearing Shame Masks
and the punished being taunted by the public.
Chastity belts (creeeeeepppppyyyyyyyy):
Used to force a wife to remain faithful to her husband while he was away.
They were also used while a woman was traveling alone or when she was
in an area where rape was possible.
(I don't understand why the craftsman felt the need to decorate them
if they are supposed to protect the women from sex.... creepy)
Neck Violin 17/18th Century
This rare example of a neck violin had to be worn by immoral people.
The removable phallic sign symbolized the crime.
Prints:
Massacre
of the French Revolution, 1792, copper engraving.
detail
Naked chicks and Law
Naked dudes and a flag
Naked justice baby closing the book on a naked devil baby
Fish Measure
The fish had to have a certain length before they could be sold.
Goya!
Iron Maiden (Nürnberg)
Original, 15/16th century
A mantle of infamy for women and girls. The wooden oak mantle is covered on the inside
and outside with sheet-iron. The hand and neck ruffle were representative of 16th century
women's clothing. Women were publicly displayed while wearing the iron maiden. Despite earlier belief to the contrary, the iron maiden was no instrument of death.The iron maiden was displayed as an instrument of death in the castle of Nürnberg until 1889. The collection was later sold and brought to England and then to the United States. The Criminal Museum of Rothenburg acquired it at a Sotheby's auction in London in 1971. To this day the iron maiden is still considered the most important instrument of past criminal law.
Turn of the screw at torture museum <---- Here's a great article about the museum
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