Brazen Bull. The Wall Street thieves should get the Brazen Bull.

[backscatter712]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazen_Bull

The Bronze Bull, Brazen Bull, or the Sicilian Bull, is an execution/torture device designed in ancient Greece.

Perillos of Athens, a brass-founder<1>, proposed to Phalaris, the tyrant of Akragas, Sicily, the invention of a new means for executing criminals; accordingly, he cast a bull, made entirely of brass, hollow, with a door in the side. The condemned were shut in the bull and a fire was set under it, heating the metal until it became "yellow hot" and causing the person inside to roast to death. So that 'nothing unseemly might spoil his feasting', Phalaris commanded that the bull be designed in such a way that its smoke rose in spicy clouds of incense. The head of the ox was designed with a complex system of tubes and stops so that the prisoner's screams were converted into sounds like the bellowing of an infuriated bull. It is also said that when the bull was reopened, the scorched bones of the remains shone like jewels and were made into bracelets.

Phalaris commended the invention, and ordered its horn sound system to be tested by Perillos himself. When Perillos entered, he was immediately locked in, and the fire was set, so that Phalaris could hear the sound of his screams.

Before Perillos could die, Phalaris opened the door and took him away. Perillos believed he would receive a reward for his invention; instead, after freeing him from the bull, Phalaris threw him from the top of a hill, killing him. Phalaris himself is said to have been killed in the brazen bull when he was overthrown by Telemachus.

Charging Bull, the bull sculpture in front of the New York Stock Exchange, would make a great Brazen Bull. Just cut a hole in the side, weld a hatch over it, build a firepit underneath, and get started!

Let the punishment fit the crime I say. Think of it as a sacrifice to the stock-market gods. :evilgrin:

Oh, and if you think I'm actually serious, go back on your meds! :crazy:

[anonymous171]

1. That would be both cruel and usual punishment.

The Guillotine would be much nicer and would still give the public a nice show.

[backscatter712]

2. Cruel and usual indeed!

I imagine the smell of roasted Wall-Street-thief would be ... unique...

That and everyone would get to hear the bull "bellowing"...

[backscatter712]

3. Oh, another thought....

Since Senator Grassley suggested seppuku, and various talking heads on the cable news channels suggested the guillotine, boiling in oil, etc., and one of Madoff's victims said he'd stone Madoff to death, I figured I might as well join in on the fun.