Judas seat
Definition
The Judas chair was a historical instrument of torture used in the Middle Ages and early modern times to extract confessions or punish convicts. The name refers to Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, and symbolized pain, betrayal, and humiliation.
Explanation of the Judas chair
The Judas chair consisted of a heavy wooden or metal chair, the seat, backrest, armrests, and footrests of which were covered with hundreds to thousands of iron spikes. The victim was tied naked to the chair so that the spikes pierced deep into the skin. In some variants, the pins could be heated, causing the torture device to also cause burns.
The purpose of this torture was not to kill immediately, but to cause prolonged pain and build psychological pressure until the victim broke or confessed. Every movement aggravated the injury, forcing total immobility and fear. The Judas chair was used in Germany, France, and Italy, among other places, and was also known by names such as Stuhl der Inquisition or sedia inquisitoria. In certain versions, the armrests or leg rests could be tightened with screws to further intensify the torture.
The chair was often displayed in public as a warning to others. It thus served not only as an instrument of torture, but also as a symbol of power, oppression, and control.
Safety & points of attention
The historical Judas chair has no connection whatsoever with modern BDSM practices. Within the BDSM world, the name is sometimes used to refer to a chair or piece of furniture with bondage points, but this is purely symbolic. Whereas the original chair was all about pain and coercion, BDSM is about mutual trust, consent, and safety. The contemporary “Judas chair” within BDSM is an aesthetic or functional reference—never a reenactment of torture.
Related terms Judas chair
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