The Brazen Bull (Worst Punishment in the History of Mankind)

Welcome back to our gory television series, which highlights some of the worst acts of self-punishment committed by individuals against one another. While we've discussed more basic tools of torture and murder in previous episodes—such as cudgels that shatter bones and claws that shred flesh—this specific tool of gruesomely awful torture may be claimed to have been invented by inventive people. It would be unthinkable to have this treatment, as with almost everything we have discussed in this series, but we won't suggest it's any worse than having starving rats nibble on your guts. However, this punishment was just as slow as previous one, making head-chopping or hanging seem incredibly lenient in contrast. The Greeks invented this method of capital punishment. It went by a number of names; other names for it include the Sicilian bull and the bronze bull. However, how do we even know anything about it? The fact that it was covered in the "Bibliotheca historica," or "Historical Library," is one of the explanations. It is composed of numerous works authored by Diodorus Siculus, an ancient Greek historian. In these books you’ll find his version of the history of the world, from what went down in ancient Egypt to the leader Alexander the Great. Quite a lot of it is still intact, but some parts from the series are missing or in fragments. In one of those books Mr. Siculus wrote about the brazen bull and this is what he said. The guy who invented it was an inventor by trade and he was named Perillos of Athens. It’s said before he built this thing, somewhere between 570 and 554 BC, he actually pitched the idea. He was what you might call a creative technologist of the past looking for some funding. He got that funding from a man named Phalaris, the tyrant of Acragas. Given his frightening title you won’t be surprised to hear that this man was said to be very cruel.The tyrant of Acragas by the name of Phalaris provided him with that funding. You won't be shocked to learn that this man was reputed to be extremely vicious, especially considering his terrifying title.

Some biographies claim that he relished torturing people and even went so far as to consume young people. It is important to note that the Encyclopedia Britannica references studies that suggest his cruelty was not as great as some have claimed. In any event, it appears that he ordered the ostentatious bull to be built. How, then, did someone die in the blatant bull? Yes, it was undoubtedly the product of a cruel but imaginative mind.It was reported to be about the size of a bull, but it was made of bronze and had a hole in it where a man could go inside. After that, a fire was started beneath the bull, and the man would eventually burn to death.And here's the thing: the bull was designed to allow the man's screams of anguish to be heard by onlookers through specially warped pipes, giving the appearance that the animal was yowling in misery. For someone like the tyrant of Acragas, this might have been the enjoyable part.The bull had holes in its nose through which the smoke would escape, but as burning bodies don't smell very nice, the nose was packed with incense. The tradition claims that the remaining bones would later be fashioned into bracelets. "The occupant will shriek and roar in unremitting agony; and his cries will come to you through the pipes as the tenderest, most pathetic, most melodious of bellowings," Perillos is reported to have remarked to the tyrant Phalaris when he presented the concept. You will take pleasure in the music while your victim is punished. After the bull was completed, Phalaris instructed the inventor to enter the device to check the sound, but according to some accounts, he started the fire inside, resulting in the inventor's death. Some claim he pulled him out and then pushed him off a cliff, killing him. Perrillos appears to have been slain for his efforts, though maybe not because Phalaris refused to make the payment. Despite the fact that Phalaris is reported to have been a vicious person, it is written that, upon learning of the execution technique, he told Perrilos, "His words revolted me." I was determined to exact revenge on the creator because I detested the idea of such cunning brutality. "Get inside yourself and pretend to roar," I told him, "if your art can really produce this effect." Then, we'll see if the pipes produce the kind of music you've described.It is stated, incidentally, that Phalaris was also slain within the bull upon his fall. That means that, in a sense, the commissioner and the inventor were both slain by themselves. Histories and word of the bold bull were written down, connecting the device to these two men—the ruler and the creator. However, the bull's past doesn't end there. It's been said that the Romans had a taste for the brash bull, and if you've seen our previous programs on Roman torture, you won't be shocked to learn that some of them wouldn't have felt too guilty about roasting a guy to death and hearing his cries. Perhaps we might examine the life of Saint Eustace.It is stated that upon his death in the second century, he became a martyr.

Prior to their own conversion to Christianity under Emperor Constantine, the Romans were punishing a large number of Christians, but that was in the fourth century AD. A great deal of Christian blood was shed prior to then, and it appears that some Christians were also fatally burned inside a bronze animal. Among them is claimed to have been Saint Eustace. He had served as a Roman emperor prior to becoming a Christian, but one day he had a vision that included a crucifix and a stag, and that's when he "saw the light." Christians may tell you that this man lost everything at that point, and that was one of God's tests.He lost his money, and, of all things, a wolf and a lion kidnapped his wife, children, and servants. But he never wavered in his beliefs. There are a few conflicting accounts of what happened to this guy, but some claim he regained his fortune and his family. However, emperor Hadrian ultimately ordered that he, his wife, and his children be burned to death in the brazen bull. Though not all of the Christian sources we looked at said his family also received treatment, they seemed to support that.This 18th-century Christian historical document was also discovered. It appears to imply that although Eustace and his family perished after being burned at the stake, some miracles did occur. This passage is taken from that text: "The holy martyrs blessed and praised the great Giver of life and death for three days while they were miraculously alive. When their voices finally stopped and the bull was opened, all four of them were discovered dead but unharmed in terms of their body or clothing. Other Christians at this period, like a man by the name of St. Attipas, are said to have followed suit.In reference to him, the following is written: "They were furious and pulled him to the Artemis temple, where they threw him into a glowing, red-hot copper or brazen metal bull where their custom was to offer sacrifices to the idols in order to drive demons from their own people." He implored God to pardon those who were causing him this suffering and fervently prayed for God to receive his soul and uphold the Christians' faith. Then, with the calmness of someone going to sleep, he left.It is important to note that some individuals consider these tales to be more legend than fact and do not believe them. Whether a story is genuine or not is not for us to decide, but most academic historians will tell you that it is difficult to verify accounts like the bull's unexpected origins in Greece or the Christian martyrs' claim that they felt no pain during their roasting. The legend of the impudent bull has been handed down through the ages, and accounts of it can still be found in manuscript form. By the way, even though you might see a brazen bull in a museum somewhere in the world, it will just be an image of one.Have any of our other punishment shows left you feeling worse? Tell us in the comments below. Watch "Eaten Alive (Scaphism) - Worst Punishments In History of Mankind" after that. As always, I appreciate your time and effort. Please remember to like, share, and subscribe. Until we meet again.