The iron maiden is not medieval: it was dreamed up in the late 18th century.

1515 · 1793 · apart: 278 years

The first account appeared in 1793, and the museum examples were pieced together from unrelated old artefacts.

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The event

• The iron maiden legend is born1793 · Nuremberg. In 1793 the German philosopher Johann Siebenkees described an execution in an 'iron maiden' at Nuremberg in 1515, without reliable sources. The famous museum specimens were assembled in the 19th century from unrelated old artefacts.

16th century · 18th century

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