Dungeons Were Not Always Torture Chambers

While we associate dungeons with medieval torture, this image mostly comes from Renaissance fiction. In reality, they were simply secure castle holding cells used by local lords.

The idea of a dungeon as a dark, horrific place of punishment is largely a romanticized invention of later centuries. In medieval times, these rooms served the practical function of holding prisoners under a lord's direct authority. Unlike modern civil prisons meant for societal correction, these private spaces were tools of feudal control. People often confuse them with oubliettes, which were hidden pits designed to trap inmates permanently.