|
|
The Spanish Donkey of Toruń
The sculpture of the donkey refers to punishments used int Toruń for minor and more serious offences, meted out frequently by the South-East frontage of the Old Town Market (Rynek Staromiejski), near to the headquarters of the town quard, called "odwach". From the 15th to 19th century, on the current site of the Copernicus monument, there was a traditional pillory in the form of a pole, which was used to perform dishanaurable punishments like flogging and severing body parts. In the 17th and 18th century, in front of the town quards headquarters, on Żeglarska street, a wooden donkey, with a sharp metal plate on its back was placed. Defiant guardsmen were sat on it with weights tied to their legs in order to increase the severly of the punishment. Wydział Informacji, Promocji i Turystyki
  |