Why does a Pillory the imagination so much?

“Why does a pillory capture the imagination so much?” was written for BDSMforyou.nl by Mistress Moriah.

A good question, but I can only agree (speaking for myself) that it’s true. I love putting a sub in a pillory. You can reach everywhere, and he can’t move an inch. I love it. These days, I have one attached to my bed. It’s best to keep a device like that close at hand. A pillory not only restricts the sub’s movement, but it also has a truly humiliating quality. It’s as if you could throw rotten eggs at them at any moment. Which I won’t do, because have you ever smelled rotten eggs? You really don’t want that smell in your house.

What is a pillory?

A pillory was commonly used in the Middle Ages, but it is also popular within the BDSM community. It consists of a post with a crossbar featuring holes for the head and hands. Once secured in this position, your sub has nowhere to go. After that, you can, of course, do whatever you please! A wonderful prop for both indoor and outdoor use!

Other names for a pillory include: pillory post, court post, scolding post, the block, or the jaw.

The history of the pillory

For anyone interested in learning a bit more about the pillory from a historical perspective.

The pillory was a means of public humiliation and punishment, primarily used in Europe during the Middle Ages and into the early modern period. It often consisted of a wooden or metal structure in which the condemned person was secured, usually by the wrists, ankles, or neck. This exposed them to public ridicule, shame, and sometimes even physical abuse by passersby. The use of the pillory was a way to enforce social norms and laws by setting an example of what could happen if they were violated.

The types of crimes punished with the pillory varied. Petty theft, slander, drunkenness, and other relatively minor offenses were often punished in this way. The idea was that the shame and public humiliation would serve as a deterrent, not only to the person being punished but also to the community as a whole.

Feces and Dead Animals

Any passerby who felt the urge could pelt him with filth and trash. Don’t think of eggs or tomatoes, though, because those were far too valuable. Instead, he was often pelted with dead mice, dead rats, and horse manure. It was also permitted to spit on the condemned person or even urinate on them, making this person literally and figuratively the target of humiliation (the laughingstock). However, throwing stones was strictly forbidden and could lead to the arrest of the thrower.

The proverb “to denounce something” also originates from this punishment. This medieval punishment was used throughout Europe as a penal measure at a time when prison sentences were not yet common. The pillory remained popular well into the 18th century, only to be officially abolished as a punitive measure in 1854, midway through the 19th century.

The pillory in BDSM

In BDSM, the pillory is, of course, the perfect way to restrain your sub and then tease or torment them. Once trapped, they have nowhere to go.

Various models are available for purchase. For example, there is a top section where only your head and hands fit through, and which rests on the shoulders (the sub can simply sit in this pillory). Or a block that rests on a base, requiring the sub to stand bent over in the pillory.

More information

Bondage – Theme page
Dungeon & products – Theme page

Source

Text & image: Mistress Moriah