Trepalium
A tripalium is an instrument of torture involving three stakes. The subject of the torture would be tied to the tripalium and burnt with fire. The words "travail" and "travel" have their roots in this word, as do cognates in other modern languages.
The structure and original use of the tripalium is far from clear; many attempts to explain it appear to be based on nothing more than the word's literal meaning of "three stakes". The oldest known reference is from 582 AD, but the historical record concerning torture in the ancient Roman empire provides far more information about famous cases where it was applied, or the legalities thereof, than about the means of torture. There are classical references to impalement.
The structure and original use of the tripalium is far from clear; many attempts to explain it appear to be based on nothing more than the word's literal meaning of "three stakes". The oldest known reference is from 582 AD, but the historical record concerning torture in the ancient Roman empire provides far more information about famous cases where it was applied, or the legalities thereof, than about the means of torture. There are classical references to impalement.
