I agree with you there, Dadspanksu. Think of the terror already building in the person knowing they will be tortured, but the humiliation of having to choose the instrument that might kill them, or at least cause serious damage.
There were instances, too where the victim/prisoner was stripped naked, paraded before a crowd and made to assume shameful positions as the were led to the torture. As males usually delivered the torture , I expect that there would nave been sexual humiliation served up, too, particularly where females were concerned.