Of course, they’re not exactly the kind of thing you’d face in your everyday life (unless your plumbing fails and your neighbor breeds frogs). But still, the imagination wanders. Which of these ancient curses would truly make you lose it? The water turning to blood? The darkness swallowing the sun? Or the emotionally scarring one, the death of the firstborn?

We’re not here to judge. We’re just asking you to vote:

Which plague would you absolutely, definitely NOT want to face?

The ten plagues

1. Water Turns to Blood

Imagine you open your kitchen tap, and instead of cool water, out comes thick, dark blood. Disgust aside, this plague symbolized the disruption of life at its core, the Nile was Egypt’s lifeline. No drinking, no washing, no crops… just chaos. And it lasted for seven days. A week without clean water would be a modern nightmare. One that hits very close to home in many places even today.

2. Frogs Everywhere

Yes, frogs are cute in moderation. But the second plague turned them into a horror movie trope. Frogs in your bed, your oven, your shoes… Frogs everywhere. It wasn’t dangerous per se, but it was deeply unsettling. It’s one thing to hear croaking by a pond. It’s another to have them hopping over your pillow every night.

3. Lice or Gnats

Small, irritating, and impossible to avoid. Whether we interpret this plague as lice or gnats, the result is the same: constant discomfort. These creatures infested both humans and animals. There’s no rest when your skin is crawling and your livestock is shaking. Not a glamorous plague, but definitely one that wears you down, mentally and physically.

4. Swarms of Flies

The fourth plague raised the stakes. Swarms of buzzing, biting flies filled the air, homes, and every available surface. It wasn’t just the noise or the filth, it was the invasion. The feeling that you couldn’t get away from it, no matter where you went. Personal space? Forgotten.

5. Livestock Disease

This was an economic and emotional blow. Cows, horses, sheep, donkeys… all fell victim to an intense epidemic. In a society where animals were both wealth and survival tools, this plague broke the backbone of Egyptian livelihood. It might seem less dramatic, but imagine losing your car, your savings, and your groceries in one go.

6. Boils and Sores

Now we’re getting personal. Painful, infected boils covered people’s bodies. Hygiene? Impossible. Comfort? A distant memory. Beyond the physical pain, this plague also attacked dignity. It’s hard to feel powerful or presentable when you’re covered in sores. Even the Pharaoh’s magicians couldn’t stand upright from the pain.

7. Hailstorm of Destruction

Egypt’s first extreme weather alert came with a vengeance. Thunder, fire, and hail rained down, destroying crops, homes, and anything left outside. Think of it as nature’s wrath turned up to 100. For a desert-based society, unprepared for heavy weather, this was apocalyptic.

8. Locusts

If any plague had a sequel, it was the locusts. After the hail, they came to finish what was left. Swarming in such massive numbers they darkened the sky, locusts consumed every green thing. It was a devastating ecological collapse. No food, no trade, no hope.

9. Darkness for Three Days

The absence of light. No sunrise, no moon, no stars… just suffocating darkness. For three full days. This wasn’t just an inconvenience; it was psychological warfare. A world without light is a world without direction, without time, without certainty. And yes, it got very creepy, very fast.

10. Death of the Firstborn

The final and most harrowing plague. A blow straight to the heart of every household. The emotional gravity of this plague can’t be understated. It was personal, final, and tragic. Whether you take it as legend or faith, it’s the moment that broke Pharaoh’s will. And understandably so.

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These methods included the use of heavy torture machines as well as the application of physical torture such as physical exhaustion, the imposition of torture positions or the use of instruments such as the Rack.

It is worth noting that the use of torture today is an unacceptable tactic and has been condemned by the international community. International legal agreements and conventions have prohibited their use.

Which of the best-known medieval tortures is the worst?

The medieval tortures of the poll

1. The Judas Cradle

The “Judas Cradle” was one of the most inhumane and gruesome means of torture used in the Middle Ages. Part of the device was a wooden tower.

First, the examiners tied the victim’s hands and feet. Then they would raise the victim to the top of the tower by pulling him with ropes. This peak was deliberately too sharp to cause incomprehensible pain and discomfort.

The victim was barely above the top of the tower trying to balance. But the more time passed, the harder it was to escape the fierce pain that the sharp nose would cause.

2. The Rack

The “Rack” is one of the most terrible medieval tortures. It was a machine that caused extreme pain and even permanent damage to the victim’s body.

Similar to Procrustes’ bed, the “Rack” had a wooden frame with two pivoting axles at the ends. The examiners would place the victim on the frame and tie his hands and feet. Then, they would twist the shafts hard, stretching the victim’s body. Muscles and tendons were stretched to such an extent that it caused excruciating pain.

The effects of torture were usually permanent and as a result the victims suffered long-term disability or died immediately from the severe injuries inflicted on them.

3. Iron Maiden

The “Iron Maiden” also known as the “Iron Maiden” is one of the most famous and at the same time gruesome medieval tortures. It was essentially a metal sarcophagus with internal sharp points. The victim would enter the Iron Maiden and be locked inside while the sharp prongs pierced his body all over.

As the Iron Maiden closed, the sharp prongs caused excruciating pain and bleeding to the victim. Apart from the excruciating pain, the agony of the victims was immense as they did not know in which parts of the body they would receive the punctures. The Iron Maiden was usually used to punish but also to force victims to confess or hand over information.

The “Iron Maiden” remains a dark symbol of the injustice and barbaric human nature of the past.

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