Chastity belts are items that titillate and fascinate in equal measure, inspiring the image of a medieval knight locking up his loved one’s private parts to ensure her abstinence during his absence. While exceptionally unhygienic, the belief that a padlock could protect a woman’s virtue has been ridiculed on countless occasions. And while there are extant examples of so-called medieval chastity belts, modern scholars have revealed that the entire concept is pure myth! The surviving information and sources we have all describe the chastity belt in the same way – a metal device which locked around a woman’s genitalia to prevent any sexual activity. However, there are variations in style. Some belts are said to have had leather straps at the waist, others are described as having a further deterrent to any men who may have tried to bypass the belt in the form of spikes pointing away from the woman’s body (and towards any would-be suitor). A 16th-century satirical woodcut about the uselessness of chastity belts in ensuring faithfulness. (Public domain) Read moreSection: NewsGeneralFolkloreEuropeWeird FactsHistoryAncient TraditionsPreviewRead Later