Torun – Torun Castle (Masks of Shame)

These are modern copies in Torun Castle, but they’re intriguing nonetheless, they’re masks of shame (known as Schandmaske in German and Maski Wstydu in Polish) which were used during the medieval period. They were worn by those being punished for various misdemeanours, from gossiping to married couples arguing. The masks were designed to humiliate and encourage others not to behave in the same manner, with the victim sometimes also being placed in stocks at the same time. The practice went on until the eighteenth century in a few places, with some masks also being designed to cause significant discomfort and pain.

And some more….