Difference between revisions of "Crucifixion"
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When Christianity became the official religion of 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 the official religion of 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. | ||
| − | + | == See also == | |
| + | * [[Jesus' Crucifixion]] | ||
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| + | [[category:religion]] | ||
Revision as of 23:31, November 27, 2007
Crucifixion the Latin word for "attach to a cross" was an agonizing form of death famous as a means of execution in the Roman Empire. It involved the recipient being nailed to a cross and left to hang until dead. The victim, always a slave or criminal, never a citizen, was mercilessly flogged and then nailed to a wooden post with crossbeam. At one time it was believed the nails were driven through the hands and the feet, but the modern view believes the nails were driven through the wrists. The nails were more dull than the sharp nails of today. The cross would usually be inclined slightly forward to further strain the body. The shoulders would become dislocated. Breathing was only possible by pushing up the legs which would cause excruciating pain in the nailed feet. Indeed, the word 'excruciating' comes from crucifying. Relieving the pressure on the feet by not pushing would once again cause breathing to be cut off. This cycle would continue until the condemned would finally die. Death could come over a course of days. Asphyxiation was the primary cause of death as the lungs would slowly fill with fluid although it was also possible to die of thirst, shock, or exhaustion. Sleep was impossible. Hallucinations during this gradual process of dying would be common.
After the slave revolt led by Spartacus was put down the insurgents were crucified by Crassius along the Appian Way at intervals of 100 feet for a distance of over 500 miles, and were never permitted to be buried.
The most famous victim of crucifixtion was 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 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 breath.
When Christianity became the official religion of 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.