History of Crucifixion

History of Crucifixion

We know that in those final hours of His life Jesus was crucified. But what exactly is a crucifixion?

The first known practice of crucifixion was by the Persians. Alexander the Great and his generals introduced the practice to the Phoenicians, Egyptians and Carthaginians. The Romans learned the practice from the Carthaginians and quickly became very efficient and skillful at it. Over time the Romans made several innovations and modifications in the method of crucifixion. 1

Roman citizens were rarely crucified. Crucifixion was reserved for slaves, the lower classes and the worst types of criminals. The Christian tradition that says Peter was crucified, and Paul beheaded, agrees with the historical Roman practice of crucifixion.2

Types of Crosses

When we think of the word cross, what usually comes to mind is an upright beam projecting above a shorter cross piece 3. This is the form of the cross which traditional Christian art depicts Jesus dying upon. In fact, the Romans used five different types of crosses for crucifying people. It is unknown which type of the cross Jesus was crucified on.

The Greek word for "cross" is stauros, and the Latin word is crux. The word primarily means "an upright stake or beam, and secondarily a stake used as an instrument for punishment and execution."4

The five different forms of the cross are:

Crux Simplex - A single vertical stake on which the victim wasted or nailed. 5

Crux Commissa - (St. Anthony's cross) in the form of a capital T. 6

Crux Decussata - (St. Andrew's cross) in the form of the letter X.7

Crux Immissa - (Latin Cross) the traditional two beams t. 8

Greek Cross - upright and length wise beams of the same length +. 9

The Procedur...

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...a, Revised, Volume One, page 829.

12 "Crucifixion," The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, Abingdon Press, Vol. A-D, Page 747.

13 Ibid.

14 Ibid.

15"Cross; Crucify," The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, Volume One, page 829.

16 Davis, "A Physician Testifies About the Crucifixion."

17 "Cross; Crucify, " The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, Volume One, page 830.

18 "Cross, Crucifixion" The Illustrated Bible Dictionary Part 1, pages 342-344.

19James H. Charlesworth, Jesus within Judaism, Doubleday, 1988, Page 122.

20 Davis, "A Physician Testifies About the Crucifixion."

21All times are approximations, and are based on the chronology set forth by Fred Coulter in his A Harmony of the Gospels In Modern English, York Publishing Co., Second Edition, 1976.

22 Davis, "A Physician Testifies About the Crucifixion."