Rack

Introduction to Rack

Rack, instrument of torture used from antiquity until the 18th century. The rack was an open wooden frame with movable bars at each end. The prisoner’s wrists and ankles were fastened to the bars, which were moved in opposite directions by levers, thus stretching the body until the bones became separated. A tool of judicial interrogation, the rack was used to obtain confessions from suspected criminals and testimony from witnesses. It was widely used by the Inquisition to force the accused to confess to heresy.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Rack in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Rack