Abacination

By Crusader1307

This type of Punishment and Torture is ancient in theory and practice. Abacination was the practice of blinding a person by placing a red hot iron or steel article (such as a Sword or Dagger) in front of their eyes (and leaving it there). The result heat radiation in short proximity to the delicate eyeballs will very quickly damage the eye and cause irreversible blindness. This form of Torture/Punishment was popular in most European Regions in the Early and Mid-Medieval Era (12th -16th Centuries). It was a cheap and effective method of both punishment and for gathering information (without the time consuming methods of traditional “torture'). Further, as the practice did not “mar the body”, it could be used on both Nobility and Royalty alike! Distance was crucial. To far from the eyes and only mild pain and damage was inflicted. General a distance of 2 to 3 inches was all that was needed (as well as roughly 3-minutes). The practice was popular in France, Spain and England for a time.