Over the years archaeological evidence has shed some light on the Roman practice of crucifixion in Palestine at the time of Christ. These findings seem to dispel some commonly held traditional thought and I tend to put more weight on archaeology and history than I do religious traditions. For that reason we will look at crucifixion on the basis of this evidence in an attempt to get a more accurate picture of what may have really happened.
So, let’s look at crucifixion as it was probably practiced during this time in a general, over-all view and as we go through this I’ll point out the things that seem to contradict traditional thought. The first thing we need to look at is the shape of the cross. Artist’s renderings show Christ struggling to carry a large wooden cross, or Christ hanging from a cross. This was a very tall cross with the horizontal crossbar already attached to the vertical post. However, archaeological and historical evidence has shown the Romans preferred a much different type of cross.
The Tau (tau or T is the 19th letter in the Greek alphabet) cross used during the time of Christ consisted of a vertical post called a stipe. These stipes were already permanently located outside the city walls where the crucifixions were carried out. It was customary for the condemned man to carry the crossbar (called a patibulum) from the scourging post to the place where the stipes were located. Since the total weight of the cross (the stipe and the patibulum) could be as much as 300 lb., it is unreasonable to think the condemned could carry it to the site, especially after having been nearly beaten to death. The patibulum would weigh only 75 to 100 lb. and was usually balanced on the man’s shoulders and tied to his outstretched arms with ropes.
The condemned was then escorted to the site by a complete military guard led by a centurion. It was common for one of the soldiers to carry a sign (called a titulus) on which the man’s name and crime were displayed. When this procession arrived at the site the victim was given a drink of wine mixed with myrrh (gall) as a mild analgesic. He was then pushed to the ground on his back and his wrists were nailed to the crossbar. The nails were metal spikes about 7 inches long and were driven into the wrist between the radius and carpals, but without causing damage to the major arterial trunks or fracture of any bones. However, the large nail driven into the wrist at this location would most likely sever the large sensorimotor median nerve producing constant, excruciating bolts of pain through each arm.
Now the victim, permanently attached to the crossbar, could be lifted up and secured to the vertical post. At this point some additional explanation of the Tau cross is needed. The vertical post or stipe was usually about 8 ft. tall and notched at the top. Four men could easily lift the victim and the crossbar or patibulum into place, where it was then further secured with rope. Now, if you have a mental picture of what this looked like, it was not in the traditional shape of a cross – it was more like a T. And, it is medically proven that the nails were not driven into the palms of the hand, where the man’s weight would easily rip them out. The ligaments and bones of the wrist can support the weight of the body. Only by driving the nails into the wrist could the victim be able to maneuver his body in such a way that breathing was possible.
Next, the feet were fixed to the vertical post. Again, nailing was the preferred Roman practice. Here, the feet were positioned one on top of the other. One nail was then driven into the second inter metatarsal space. To do this the knees were bent at an approximate 90-degree angle and rotated in the same direction. The location of this nail would support the man’s weight as he pushed up to straighten his torso. This allowed the freedom of movement necessary so the victim could breathe – a difficult and extremely excruciating process that will be explained later. In order to prolong the agony of crucifixion a horizontal plank (called a sedile) was attached about halfway down the stipe to serve as a crude seat, so the victim could try to get some relief from the constant labor of trying to breathe.
The victim is now securely affixed to both the horizontal plank and the vertical post. As he struggles to breathe, with each movement causing extreme pain, another problem arises. Insects begin to light on the open wounds; some may even begin to burrow into them. As more and more insects are drawn to the helpless victim, they begin to get into the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Birds of prey have learned they can now begin to tear away the flesh from the edges of these wounds without interference. And, unless family members or friends of the victim stay on the site during the night, predatory animals come and feed on the lower extremities of the still living victim, as they are only a few feet off the ground.
Moreover, it was customary to leave the corpse at the site to be devoured by these predators. Roman law did allow family members to claim the body for burial, but only after obtaining permission from a Roman official. Depending on the nature of the crime, however, this permission was often withheld. Since crucifixion was, in fact, an execution, the body was not released until the soldiers were certain that death had occurred. This certainty was confirmed by one of the soldiers who would pierce the body with a sword or spear. The thrust was made on the right side of the chest, under the ribs, upward to the heart.
Beyond the unimaginable pain, the most difficult aspect of crucifixion was breathing. Normally, inhalation is an active movement; that is, it requires some exertion of the intercostal muscles in the chest. Exhalation, then, is passive; it requires only the relaxing of those muscles. However, now just the opposite is true. The weight of the body would pull down on the outstretched arms and shoulders producing a shallow inhalation that required no exertion (passive). Exhalation then required great exertion as the victim had to push his weight up on the feet and, at the same time, lift with his arms and shoulders (active). This repeated action would cause fiery pain in the hands, arms, shoulders, feet and legs and would eventually cause muscle cramps, possible shock (due to the loss of blood), then exhaustion and finally death by asphyxiation.