Shocking Twist: Inventor of ‘Most Painful Torture Device’ Becomes Its Ultimate Victim in Gruesome Simulation

Imagine inventing a torture device so twisted that it not only roasted people alive but turned their screams into the bellowing of a furious bull. Now, here’s the kicker—the poor genius who dreamed this up ended up being its first victim. Talk about a cautionary tale wrapped in bronze! Our ancestors sure had a flair for grim creativity, inventing horrors like blood eagles, keelhauling, and entombment, but the Brazen Bull from ancient Sicily takes the cake—or should I say, the steak. It’s painful, it’s embarrassing, and it’s as bizarrely ingenious as history gets. If you ever wondered whether cruelty could be both inventive and ironic, this one’s got your name on it. Ready to dive into the maddening story of Perilaus of Athens and his sizzling invention? LEARN MORE.

A creepy simulation has depicted how an ancient inventor fell victim to the very torture device he created.

From blood eagles to keelhauling, entombment and many more, it’s fair to say that our ancestors were both creative and very f***ed up when it came to inventing ways to deal with enemies.

Perhaps one of the most notorious methods came from an ancient Greek civilisation residing in what is now modern day Sicily, which allowed the condemned to be tortured in a device that converted their screams into the furious bellows of a wild animal.

In case you hadn’t already guessed, we are of course talking about the notorious Brazen Bull, a torture device that combines one of the most painful but also embarrassing ways to die.

A historical depiction of the Brazen Bull (Wikimedia Commons)

Believed to have come into existence in approximately 500-560 BCE, the rather creative torture method is the brainchild of a Greek inventor called Perilaus of Athens.

Designed to torture and/or kill an intended recipient the Brazen Bull is a large bronze sculpture which resembles its namesake and features a door on one side.

The condemned is bundled into the contraption and a fire is lit underneath, allowing the bronze to heat up to unbearable temperatures.

As the unlucky soul begins to scream in agony, a particularly sadistic network of internal pipes meant that these screams were transformed into the sound of a charging bull to those on the outside.

Which meant that while you were spending your final moments being roasted alive, those stood on the outside were left watching a rather comical bronze animal make huffing noises.

Talk about adding insult to injury.

Have a look at the simulation below and be very grateful that you live in an era where things such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights exist:

Given the fact that it was created over 2,000 years ago, it’s been difficult for historians to completely verify the existence of the Brazen Bull; however the story has a very grim ending for Perilaus of Athens.

According to the one alleged account, Perilaus took the finished creation to the tyrannical leader Phalaris and said: “His screams will come to you through the pipes as the tenderest, most pathetic, most melodious of bellowings.”

Phalaris then requested the inventor climb in to test the horn system, a trick which would see him tortured in his own creation before meeting his end after being thrown off a cliff.

How Perilaus likely looked after realising his fate (Midjourney AI/LADbible)

He wasn’t the only supposed notable death by Brazen Bull either, as Phalaris would be executed in the device after being overthrown.

Archeologists are yet to find any concrete evidence of the Brazen Bull, however repeated references in historical texts reveal at the very least the method was used to scare citizens into line.