| The dungeon has been a disturbing thought to | | | | been kept in the underground areas of the Keep. |
| many individuals, as they picture a dark, humid | | | | So what does a real dungeon look like? Usually |
| underground prison full of toothless criminals, foul | | | | they are a plain one room underground prison cell, |
| smells, chains and rats. The word "dungeon" is | | | | without windows with one heavy door as access, |
| derived from the Old French word "donjon", which | | | | but sometimes only a hatch in the ceiling for |
| originally came from the "dominus" in Latin, | | | | access. They became associated with torture, |
| although "dominus" means "lord". Donjon, in France, | | | | which surely did occur. As well people tend to fear |
| actually means the "keep" of a castle (which is a | | | | being trapped underground. So the word |
| tower). The French word "cachot" would have | | | | "dungeon" conjured up a feeling of fear and being |
| actually been more appropriate, as it means "a | | | | trapped in a place of underground torture. |
| type of prison". | | | | A famous American dungeon is the Provost |
| So as for its original meaning, the "dungeon" was | | | | Dungeon in Charleston, South Carolina, used during |
| the castle Keep, which is the main tower. This | | | | the Revolutionary War. It is the cellar, with heavy |
| Keep was the last position of defense for the | | | | barrel vaulted ceilings, under the Old Exchange |
| garrison and a place they could retreat to if the | | | | Building. Visiting it would give you a good idea of |
| outer fortifications were breached. It was to be a | | | | what an American dungeon looked like! It was |
| safe and comfortable place for the Lord of the | | | | described as a damp and unwholesome place that |
| castle to stay. It turned out to be a safe place to | | | | caused many illnesses and deaths among the |
| keep prisoners as well. At some point more | | | | prisoners. Imagine no electricity or running water! |
| luxurious housing was commonly built for the | | | | Prisoners of all types (many innocent), men and |
| Lord, and the dungeon was used exclusively for | | | | women, were indiscriminately thrown together in |
| prisoners. Over time, the term evolved to mean | | | | one room to suffer the consequences. |
| an underground prison. The prisoners must have | | | | |