2006-10-12 06:54:28 · 3 answers · asked by zoey 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
The breaking wheel (also known as Catherine wheel; originally, the whele) was a torturous capital punishment device used in the Middle Ages and early modern times for public execution by cudgeling to death. It was not used for coercion through torture.
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2006-10-12 07:14:37 · answer #1 · answered by lilpinay 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Catherine Wheel is a firework which was named after the wheel that is the symbol of Saint Catherine's marytrdom.
The torture device is simply known as the wheel. A person's arms and legs were broken and threaded between the spokes of the wheel until that person confessed to the crimes of which they were accused.
2006-10-13 16:00:10 · answer #2 · answered by samanthajanecaroline 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "catherine wheel" was named in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria (a litterate Christian from noble descent) who was condemned by the emperor Maximus to die on the wheel, but, at her touch, the torture device was destroyed. The emperor who was know for his cruelty against Christians, decided to have Catherine beheaded instead...
2006-10-12 16:41:00 · answer #3 · answered by yapull 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋