With head in wax. For much of the Middle Ages and early modern history, petty crimes such as injury or infidelity were commonly punished by public humiliation. Offenders were also sometimes marked with physical burns or a cut on their earlobe, so it could easily be seen by anyone in the future that they were not someone who could be trusted in business. The city of Rothenburg stands out, where they had a small special cage to lock up the punished in a public square to humiliate them and allow mockery, and sometimes to throw food and anything rotten at them. Other punishments were more mobile: people had to wear shame masks or iron shoes and parade through the market and streets. These items were often fitted with bells, to announce the arrival of the person with the ringing of the fool's bell. Neck fiddles were also commonly used. Both for individuals and for couples where two arguing neighbors or couples would stay on the neck violin until they settle disputes. Origin: private collection, Barcelona.