Roman Crucifixion

Crucifixion is a method of slow and extremely painful execution inflicted upon the worst kind of criminals. Death was the result from exhaustion and asphyxiation. Suffocation, loss of body fluids and multiple organ failure. In addition, the heat and lungs would stop working as blood drained though wounds. Crucifixion was invented by the Persians in 300-400 BC and developed, during Roman times, into a punishment designed to kill.

Typically, Roman crucifixion was executed by specialised teams, composed of a commanding centurion and four soldiers. Even before a criminal was forced to carry his cross to the place of execution, he would have to endure the scourging of a whip known as a flagrum (or a cat-o'-nine-tails). This device consisted of small pieces of bone and metal attached to a number of leather strands. Chunks of flesh was ripped to the bone from the lashings endured. The criminal was then stripped of his clothes and either nailed of bound to the cross. For the purpose of numbing the pain of the victim, a medicated cup of vinegar mixed with gall and myrrh was given.

Of crosses (crux), there were several types:

- The crux simplex (I), an upright pole.

- The crux decussata (X), or crux Andreana, because St. Andrew is said to have suffered upon it.

- The crux commissa (T), or St. Anthony's cross.

- The crux immissa (t), this was the kind of cross on which Jesus of Nazareth died.

The time victims took to die would depend on how they were crucified.

The most painful method of crucifixion included having the victim tied to the cross and dying of hunger. Because they were able to support some of their weight with their arms, could survive for several days. Likely the most severe method of crucifixion, some victims had their arms straight above them - these criminals would die from 10-30 minutes. It was simply impossible to breathe under such conditions. Those nailed to the cross, with their arms stretched out on either side, could live no more than 24 hours.

Seven-inch nails, with large heads, would be driven through the wrists (or just above, between the two bones of the forearm) so that the four carpal bones on either side could support the body's weight. The nail would pierce the median nerve, which would not only cause immense pain, but would have paralysed the victim's hands entirely. The feet were nailed to the upright part of the crucifix, bending the knees at around 45 degrees. To hasten the death, executioners would break the legs of their victims, giving no chance of using their thigh muscles as support. This was unnecessary, was their strength would not have lasted more than a few minutes, even if they had been unharmed.

Once the legs could do no more, the weight of the victim would be transferred to the arms, putting massive strain on them - this would gradually pull the shoulders from their sockets. A few minutes later, the elbows and wrists would do the same; by then, the victims arms would be six or seven inches longer. The victim would then have to bear his weight on his chest. Immediately, he would have trouble breathing as the weight caused the rib cage to lift up and force him into a constant state of inhalation - making it impossible to take a full breath.

Suffocation would generally follow, but "The resultant lack of oxygen in the blood would cause damage to tissues and blood vessels, allowing fluid to diffuse out of the blood into tissues, including the lungs and the sac around the heart," comments Jeremy Ward, a physiologist at King's College London. This would make the lungs stiff and make breathing close to impossible, and the pressure surrounding the would impair its pumping. This would lead to unconsciousness. Then, finally, death. It was normal to leave the body on the cross after death, but Jewish law specifically forbade criminal bodies to remain on the cross during the Sabbath-day.

It is, however, possible to survive crucifixion. The historian Josephus, describes pleading directly to the Roman general Titus for the lives of three crucified friends. His request was granted and his friends were taken down immediately. Two of them died under the physician's hands, but the third recovered. Josephus gave no details of the method of duration of crucifixion of these men.

Fredrick Farrar, in his book The Life of Christ, described crucifixion as follows:

"A death by crucifixion seems to include all that pain and death can have of the horrible and ghastly-dizziness, cramp, thirst, starvation, sleeplessness, traumatic fever, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of intended wounds-all intensified just up to the point at which they can be endured at all, but all stopping just short of the point which would give to the sufferer the relief of unconsciousness. The unnatural position made every movement painful; the lacerated veins and crushed tendons throbbed with incessant anguish; the wounds, inflamed by exposure, gradually gangrened [when a victim took several days to die]; the arteries-especially at the head and stomach-became swollen and oppressed with surcharged blood, and while each variety of misery went on gradually increasing, there was added to them the intolerable pang of a burning and raging thirst, and all these physical complications caused an internal excitement and anxiety, which made the prospect of death itself-of death, the unknown enemy, at whose approach man usually shudders most-bear the aspect of a delicious and exquisite release." (Vol. 2 [New York: E. P. Dutton, 1877], pp. 403-4)

http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman-life/roman-crucifixion.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/apr/08/thisweekssciencequestions