On Crucifixion: An Essay

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patrick457

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I have just posted up the first two portions of an essay about Crucifixion on my blog. What do you all think?

If I have omitted or misstated something, please notify me.
 
I just read part 1, very good. I’m still having trouble imagining attaching the patibulum to the stipes with a man already tied to it. Seems it would be easier to make him carry the whole thing and tie/nail him to it on the ground.
 
Spirithound said:
I just read part 1, very good. I’m still having trouble imagining attaching the patibulum to the stipes with a man already tied to it. Seems it would be easier to make him carry the whole thing and tie/nail him to it on the ground.
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This was actually discussed in a documentary at National Geographic.

While it may look easier, having the whole cross at the ground actually was more difficult and impractical to do (despite what pictures or movies might lead you to believe), especially if you consider the victim’s weight PLUS the weight of the cross combined. It would take a lot of manpower (I’ll say about 4-6 men; perhaps even more) to lift the whole thing up the ground.

Plus, since the stipes (and perhaps the patibulum) was probably reused over and over again, perhaps even every other day, wouldn’t it be cumbersome to dig the vertical post up, only to fix it again on the ground?

Having the stipes fixed to the ground, meanwhile, was more easier and less time-consuming. The condemned man, already nailed/tied to the patibulum, could be lifted up by two or three soldiers and affixed to the stipes, which is said to be only a few inches up to a feet or so on the ground, without much time or effort. Plus, in this method you are only required to fix a stipes once to the ground and you could now reuse it time and again for executions.
 
I’ve been doing part 3 for now and plan to put it up this week.
Does someone have any suggestions or corrections that they wish to put up?
 
Spirithound said:
I read part 2, and it is very good.
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Thank you. 👍
Here’s part 3, finally. I’ll admit that I’m less satisfied on it than I was on the other two; I think that more material needs to be discussed on this part. Can anybody recommend a suggestion?
 
Good work 🙂 I have nothing to add, but then, you’re the expert 😉
 
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