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The most famous victim of crucifixion was [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]], and to [[Christians]] the phrase ''the crucifixion'' refers specifically to his death.  While the details of his crucifixion are not given are not given in [[The Gospels|the Gospel]] accounts, it is mentioned that the legs of the men being crucified next to Him were broken (most likely smashed with hammers) so they would die before the sabbath. With shattered legs they could no longer push themselves up and would soon die from not being able to breathe.

The most famous victim of crucifixion was [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]], and to [[Christians]] the phrase ''the crucifixion'' refers specifically to his death.  While the details of his crucifixion are not given are not given in [[The Gospels|the Gospel]] accounts, it is mentioned that the legs of the men being crucified next to Him were broken (most likely smashed with hammers) so they would die before the sabbath. With shattered legs they could no longer push themselves up and would soon die from not being able to breathe.

French surgeon Dr. Pierre Barbet postulated after [[World War II]] that crucifixion victims on a cross would experience sagging ribs, making it impossible for them to exhale properly.  A 1986 article in the [[Journal of the American Medical Association]] states that the flogging of Jesus resulted in deep stripelike lacerations and significant [[blood]] loss, which probably resulted in [[Cardiogenic Shock|hypovolemic shock]] and [[pleural effusion]].  This probably accounts for Jesus being too weak to be able to carry the [[crossbar]] to [[Golgotha]] without help.  The hypovolemic shock and the marked difficulty in respiration, along with other contributing factors, were cited as the medical causes of Jesus' death.<ref>[http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/content/news/2005/3_25_2005/ne250305csi.shtml CSI Jerusalem: Death on an old wooden cross]</ref><ref>[http://the-crucifixion.org/ On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ]</ref>

French surgeon Dr. Pierre Barbet postulated after [[World War II]] that crucifixion victims on a cross would experience sagging ribs, making it impossible for them to exhale properly.  A 1986 article in the [[Journal of the American Medical Association]] states that the flogging of Jesus resulted in deep stripelike lacerations and significant [[blood]] loss, which probably resulted in [[Cardiogenic Shock|hypovolemic shock]] and pleural effusion.  This probably accounts for Jesus being too weak to be able to carry the crossbar to [[Golgotha]] without help.  The hypovolemic shock and the marked difficulty in respiration, along with other contributing factors, were cited as the medical causes of Jesus' death.<ref>[http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/content/news/2005/3_25_2005/ne250305csi.shtml CSI Jerusalem: Death on an old wooden cross]</ref><ref>[http://the-crucifixion.org/ On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ]</ref>

When Christianity became a legal religion within the Roman empire in 313 AD, crucifixion was abandoned.  Other countries and areas of the world have used this form of punishment, but never to the extent as occurred during Roman times.

When Christianity became a legal religion within the Roman empire in 313 AD, crucifixion was abandoned.  Other countries and areas of the world have used this form of punishment, but never to the extent as occurred during Roman times.