Jesus is not the only ancient figure to have suffered crucifixion, but it's his image one visualizes when the expression death on the cross crops up.
Crucifxion wasn't only practiced by by the Romans, but it's their use of the punishment for rebels like Spartacus' slave army lining the Appian Way that conjures the savagery of this method of execution. Being tied up or even having nails driven in to hold you on a cross isn't what actually causes death on a cross. Starvation, asphyxiation, or heart failure were what did the victim in. Leg breaking and scourging could hasten the demise. The William Smith Dictionary entry on the various types of crosses, Crux, says that some victims of this method of execution lasted 9 days.
 Simon of Cyrene carries the cross CC Flickr User dbgg1979 |
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