By quaestio [torture] we are to understand the torment and suff ering of the body in order to elicit the truth. . . . Since, therefore, quaestio is to be understood by force and torment, these are the things that determine its meaning. —Ulpian (Peters 1985: 1) Introduction Th is is a dark book about an even darker subject, so it is appro- priate to subject one prevalent myth about torture to the light of historical inquiry at the outset. It would be comforting to believe that torture is a cruel anomaly, perpetuated by sadists in dungeons that no govern- ment offi cial knows about and where no judge ever treads. While that hypothesis might help us sleep at night, it wouldn’t be true. Th is is said not with an intent to normalize torture but sim- ply to describe what has sadly been humanity’s collective ex- perience with it. While it may—or may not—be viewed as an aberrant behavior depending on the society, who is subjected to it, and the conditions under which it occurs, the practice Torture devices or artisan crafting tools? Th ese items, found in the Roman Catacombs, could have been used for both purposes. Th e pincers (a) would break limbs, the knotted cords (b) would lacerate the back while the claws (c) could rip fl esh from an unfortunate prisoner. Some believe they could also have been used to work textiles. (Hilary Morgan/Alamy) 3 Background and History 1 4148-1156f-Printer Pdf-001-r01.indd 3 4148-1156f-Printer Pdf-001-r01.indd 3 12/24/2019 11:33:54 AM 12/24/2019 11:33:54 AM
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