The Brazen Bull, also known as the Sicilian Bull or the Bronze Bull, is one of the most brutal, terrifying, and well-documented torture devices from antiquity. Crafted in the socio-political crucible of Ancient Greece, the Brazen Bull was designed as a testament to human ingenuity in the creation of new forms of cruelty and punishment. Though its existence is steeped in historical debate and its use is associated with tales of horror and inhumanity, there’s no denying the chilling impact of its story on our understanding of human history.
Depiction of the Brazen Bull
How The Brazen Bull Was Invented ?
The Brazen Bull was allegedly created by Perillos of Athens, a bronze worker in the 6th century BCE, and introduced to Phalaris, the tyrant of Akragas, a Greek city in Sicily. As its name suggests, the Brazen Bull was a bronze object crafted in the shape of a bull. This metallic beast was hollow inside, with a door on the side for placing a person within. Once the victim was secured inside the Brazen Bull, a fire would be lit under its belly, turning the device into a horrifying oven. The most gruesome aspect was its dual function as a torture device and a ‘musical’ instrument for the onlookers’ perverse entertainment.
The brazen bull
As the heated metal seared the victim’s flesh, their agonized screams were channeled through small sounding pipes in the bull’s nostrils, producing a bellowing sound. In Diodorus’ account, Perillos allegedly boasted to the tyrant, “His cries of pain will give you pleasure as they come through the pipes in the nostrils.” This chilling feature was both a demonstration of acoustic principles and a horrifying embellishment of the punishment.
Unknown 16th century painter
Perіlloѕ’s death under his own creation
Phalaris, known for his savagery and cruelty, ruled Akragas from 570 to 554 BCE. The bull was created at his request, designed to make execution a public spectacle that would instill fear and compliance among his subjects. However, the tyrant’s cruel sense of irony was brought to the fore when he turned the Bull on its inventor.
Perilaus being forced into the brazen bull that he built for Phalaris
According to the story, Perillos proposed the Brazen Bull to Phalaris, promising that the screams of the slowly roasted victims inside would sound like the bellowing of a bull. Intrigued, Phalaris ordered Perillos to climb inside to demonstrate the acoustic properties. Once Perillos was inside, Phalaris locked the door and lit a fire underneath, effectively roasting Perillos alive. Thus, the first victim of the Brazen Bull was its creator himself. Perillos did not die in his invention, however, as he was taken out half-dead, and thrown off a cliff. This was done in order that his “death might not pollute the work of bronze”.
The brazen bull
Was The Bronze Bull Of Phalaris A Real Torture Device Or Just A Myth ?
Despite the lack of archaeological evidence, the Brazen Bull was mentioned by historic figures like Cicero and Diodorus Siculus as a real torture device used by the tyrant Phalaris. These accounts describe the Brazen Bull being used in public executions, but modern historians question its existence due to the presence of classical myth elements like poetic justice and irony in the story of its creation. Additionally, there are no depictions of the Brazen Bull in ancient art.
The brazen bull (left) depicted on an old engraving by Hans Burgkmair
Whether the Brazen Bull was a real instrument of torture or a figment of imagination, its story serves as a chilling reminder of the potential for human cruelty and the dangers of unchecked power. It is a tale that has echoed through the ages, a stark testament to the dark corners of human history.