Shrew's fiddle: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Fomfr single fiddle.jpg|thumb|A shrew's fiddle at the torture museum in [[Freiburg im Breisgau]]]] |
[[Image:Fomfr single fiddle.jpg|thumb|A shrew's fiddle at the torture museum in [[Freiburg im Breisgau]]]] |
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[[Image:Fomfr double fiddle.jpg|thumb|A shrew's fiddle for two at the torture museum in [[Freiburg im Breisgau]]]] |
[[Image:Fomfr double fiddle.jpg|thumb|A shrew's fiddle for two at the torture museum in [[Freiburg im Breisgau]]]] |
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A '''shrew's fiddle''' or '''neck violin''' is a variation of the [[yoke]], [[pillory]] or rigid irons whereby the wrists are locked in front of the bound person by a hinged board or steel bar.<ref name="rothenberg">{{cite web|url=http://www.scrapbookpages.com/Rothenburg/Tour/CriminalMuseum.html|title=Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Criminal Museum shows Iron Maiden, neck violins and Chastity belts|accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref> It was originally used in the 18th century as a way of punishing women who were caught arguing or fighting.<ref name="rothenberg"/><ref name="Vienna">{{cite web|url=http://www.vienna.cc/english/folterm03.htm|title=Museum of Medieval legal history - Halsgeige (neck-viola) and Shame-mask - Medieval torture|accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref> |
A '''shrew's fiddle''' or '''neck violin''' is a variation of the [[yoke]], [[pillory]] or rigid irons whereby the wrists are locked in front of the bound person by a hinged board or steel bar.<ref name="rothenberg">{{cite web|url=http://www.scrapbookpages.com/Rothenburg/Tour/CriminalMuseum.html|title=Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Criminal Museum shows Iron Maiden, neck violins and Chastity belts|accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>{{verify credibility}} It was originally used in the 18th century as a way of punishing women who were caught arguing or fighting.<ref name="rothenberg"/><ref name="Vienna">{{cite web|url=http://www.vienna.cc/english/folterm03.htm|title=Museum of Medieval legal history - Halsgeige (neck-viola) and Shame-mask - Medieval torture|accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Revision as of 08:37, 4 May 2008
A shrew's fiddle or neck violin is a variation of the yoke, pillory or rigid irons whereby the wrists are locked in front of the bound person by a hinged board or steel bar.[1][unreliable source?] It was originally used in the 18th century as a way of punishing women who were caught arguing or fighting.[1][2]
History
The shrew's fiddle was first used in places such as Germany and Austria, where it was known as a Halsgeige, meaning "neck viola"[2] or "neck violin".[3] It was originally made out of two pieces of wood, fitted with a hinge and a lock at the front. The shrew's fiddle consisted of three holes. One was a large hole for the head and neck to fit through; the other two were smaller holes which fastened the arms in front of the victim.[2]
It was first used to punish women who were caught fighting or arguing with other people.[2] The husband of the woman would sometimes birch or flog his wife as further punishment. Another version was the "double fiddle", which allowed two people to be attached together, face-to-face. This forced the two people to talk to each other. They were not released until the argument had been resolved.[3]
References
- ^ a b "Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Criminal Museum shows Iron Maiden, neck violins and Chastity belts". Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ^ a b c d "Museum of Medieval legal history - Halsgeige (neck-viola) and Shame-mask - Medieval torture". Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ^ a b "Rothenburg". Retrieved 2008-05-04.
External links
