Surely everyone heard about the crucifixion of Jesus, since in our country there are quite a lot of Christians of various faiths. However, not everyone has an idea what exactly it is. About what a crucifix, the history of its appearance and species will be described in this essay.
Story
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 the crucifixion, the most dangerous criminals were executed, for example, rebels, robbers, murderers, as well as fugitive slaves and prisoners of war. After the revolt of Spartacus in 73-71 years BC. e. It was crushed, the surviving and captured slaves, about 6 thousand people, were executed.
Crucifixion was chosen as the method of execution. These tools of torture and mortification with crucified captives were installed along the road called Appieva, which ran from Capua to Rome. It should be noted that the ancient Roman commander (hereinafter political figure) Mark Licinius Crassus, who suppressed the uprising of Spartacus, did not order to remove the executed prisoners from the crosses.
Description of the cross
Considering what a crucifix is, it is necessary to pay attention to the cross itself, on which it was carried out. For execution, a cross made of wood was used. It had a T-shape, but there were others, such as:
- normal vertical (pillar);
- a cross in the shape of the letter "X";
- two crossed beams.
The design, which consisted of two elements, was a vertically dug rack and a horizontal beam. The beam was removable, and it was her who was sentenced to be crucified to the place of execution. Sometimes on a vertical stand, in its middle part, a wooden element was attached, which helped to support the executed man with his feet. This was done in order to extend his life, and, accordingly, his torment.
Execution
Studying what crucifixion is, one should consider the execution itself. After the convict delivered a horizontal beam (weighing more than 50 kg) to the place of execution, she was fixed on a vertical column. Then they laid the victim on the cross and nailed her legs to the post, and her hands to the transverse beam. After this, 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 one towered above the ground for general viewing.
In this state, the doomed to death could spend several days. After death, the crosses were removed, and the executed were removed from them. However, as mentioned earlier, it also happened that the crosses were left for a long time as a warning to those who planned to commit a crime against the Roman Empire.
Also practiced the removal from the cross at night, followed by the hoisting of the condemned to the cross in the morning. This was done until the victim died of suffering and pain shock.
Crucifixion of christ
Continuing to consider what crucifixion is, we need to touch on the topic of Christianity. According to the Christian faith, Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans on the cross. It is for this reason that the cross has become one of the symbols of this faith. To the place of his execution - Mount Calvary - Christ carried the crossbar of the cross, and a crown of thorns was worn on his head.
Later, the objects that were used in the execution, began to be attributed to the number of tools of the Passion of Christ, namely:
- Cross (Life-giving), on which Christ was crucified. Refers to sacred Christian relics.
- A tablet with the abbreviation INRI, which stands for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
- The nails with which the hands and feet of Christ were nailed to the cross.
- The Holy Grail, where, according to legend, the blood of Jesus was collected.
- Sponge with which Christ was given a solution of vinegar.
- The spear of Longinus, the weapon of the warrior with which they pierced the dead Christ, to be sure of his death.
- Ticks with which to get nails.
- The staircase used to lift Jesus from the cross.
All these things have survived to the present and are especially revered in the Christian world. So, for example, the particles of the Life-giving Cross on which Jesus was crucified are in some temples today. Today, a photo of the crucifix depicted in the paintings can be seen in almost any country in the world.
Nowadays
In later times, the crucifixion was not used as widely as before. However, cases of such lethal punishment 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 a convicted person 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. Such punishment is betrayed by those convicted of blasphemy. It should be said that the body of the executed is not nailed to the cross, but tied.
Still, I want to believe that in these countries this type of punishment will cease to be used, and this terrible and painful execution will remain in a distant history.