The Iron Maiden was a cabinet with sharp spikes used to torture victims during the Middle Ages.
There is no historical evidence that Iron Maidens were ever actually used as torture devices in medieval times. The device appears to be a 19th-century fabrication, possibly created as a curiosity or prop. Many examples displayed in 'torture museums' were constructed in the 1800s-1900s without authentic historical basis.
Reception
Sources
- Wikipedia: Iron Maiden Myth PRIMARY
- Snopes: Iron Maiden REFERENCE