Surely everyone has heard about the crucifixion of Jesus, since there are quite a lot of Christians of various denominations in our country. However, not everyone has an idea of what exactly it is. About what crucifixion is, the history of its appearance and types will be described in this essay.
History
This type of execution was known in Greece, the Babylonian kingdom, Carthage and Palestine. However, it received the greatest prevalence in the territory of Ancient Rome. This execution, in addition to being very painful and cruel, was also considered extremely shameful.
Through crucifixion, the most dangerous criminals were executed, for example, rebels, robbers, murderers, as well as runaway slaves and prisoners of war. After the uprising of Spartacus in 73-71 BC. e. was suppressed, the surviving and captured slaves, approximately 6 thousand people, were executed.
Crucifixion was chosen as the method of execution. These instruments of torture and death with crucified captives were set up along the road called Appian, which ran from Capua to Rome. It should be noted that the ancient Roman commander (later politicalfigure) Mark Licinius Crassus, who suppressed the uprising of Spartacus, did not order to remove the executed captives from the crosses.
Description of the cross
Considering what a crucifixion is, it is necessary to pay attention to the very cross on which it was carried out. For the execution, a cross made of wood was used. It had a T-shape, but there were others, such as:
- regular vertical (column);
- X-shaped cross;
- two crossed beams.
The structure, which consisted of two elements, was a vertically dug-in post and a horizontal beam. The beam was removable, and it was she who was sentenced to be crucified who carried it to the place of execution. Sometimes a wooden element was attached to a vertical stand, in its middle part, which helped the executed person to lean with his feet. This was done in order to prolong his life, and, accordingly, his torment.
Execution
Studying what a crucifixion is, one should consider the execution itself. After the condemned delivered a horizontal beam (weighing more than 50 kg) to the place of execution, it was fixed on a vertical pole. Then they laid the victim on the cross and nailed her legs to the post, and her hands to the cross beam. After that, the pole was lifted vertically with the help of ropes and installed in a pre-dug hole, which was then filled up. As a result, the executed towered above the ground for all to see.
In this state, doomed todeath could hold a few days. After death, the crosses were removed, and the executed were removed from them. However, as mentioned earlier, it also happened that crosses were left for a long time as a warning to those who planned to commit a crime against the Roman Empire.
It was also practiced to be taken down from the cross at night, with the subsequent hoisting up of the condemned to the cross in the morning. This was done until the victim died from suffering and pain shock.
Crucifixion of Christ
Continuing to consider what a crucifixion is, we need to touch on the topic of Christianity. According to Christian belief, Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans on a cross. It is for this reason that the cross has become one of the symbols of this faith. Before the place of his execution - Mount Calvary - Christ carried the crossbar, and a wreath of thorns was put on his head.
Later, the items that were used during the execution began to be attributed to the number of instruments of the Passion of Christ, namely:
- Cross (Life-Giving), on which Christ was crucified. Refers to sacred Christian relics.
- A plate with the abbreviation I. N. R. I., which stands for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
- The nails with which Christ's hands and feet were nailed to the cross.
- The Grail where, according to legend, the blood of Jesus was collected.
- The sponge with which Christ was given a solution of vinegar to drink.
- The Spear of Longinus, the weapon of a warrior who pierced the dead Christ to make sure he was dead.
- Pliers used to remove nails.
- Ladder used for removalJesus from the cross.
All these things have survived to this day and are especially revered in the Christian world. So, for example, particles of the Life-Giving Cross, on which Jesus was crucified, are today in some churches. Today, a photo with a crucifix depicted in the paintings can be seen in almost any country in the world.
Today
In subsequent times, the crucifixion was not used as widely as before. However, cases of such a death pen alty are still known. So, for example, in the Republic of Iran, which partially adheres to Sharia law, there is a criminal law according to which those found guilty must be crucified. It should be noted that examples of the application of this law are currently unknown.
The Sudanese Sharia code also provides for crucifixion, but before that, the guilty person is hanged, and then his dead body is crucified. A similar punishment is given to those who are convicted of blasphemy. It should be said that the body of the executed is not nailed to the cross, but tied.
Still, I would like to believe that in these countries this type of punishment will no longer be used, and this terrible and painful execution will remain in distant history.
