Might I ask you when did the Romans begin and stop using Crucifixion? I've tried searching for this answer, I can't seem to find real answers. God Bless (If the answer is in this video I will retract this) Watching now.
The existence of a real Jesus, a rabbi (or the equivalent word "master") who would have preached Judaism not Christianity, is accepted - it is the gospellers' Christ which is a bunch of lies that falsely accused the Jewish elite of the murder of their mythic hero.
Interesting video, a grizzly way to go. One question: As it is described, a person, weighing between 100 - 150 pound person would be hung on the top part of what looked like an 8 to 10 foot pole. That makes the cross very top heavy, which is prone to breakage and tipping over -- unless the pole was as wide as a modern telephone pole, and would need to have been put at least 4feet into the ground to prevent this tipping over. Add to the fact that rain, cold, and the executed " precious bodily fluids" would rot the wood in a short period of time The question is: did any literature describe how these horrible things were maintained?
Ummm... Excruciating would refer to removing someone from a cross, an almost impossible feat if they are nailed on. It would probably require ripping the nails through the flesh, destroying the wrist in the process., or a similar procedure but with the hole enlarged by a knife first. You might survive but highly unlikely. If you are being unleashed for removal you would feel tremendous pressures in your chest. That may be what the word refers to.
@@lsixty30 Out , or FROM the cross. What you get out of the cross or from the cross. Surely youre not suggesting that "excruciating" is somehow relief from crucifixion ? Excruciating is what you get out or from the cross.
Sometimes the prohibition on crucifying Roman citizens was not observed. I read in one case a Roman general was crucifying rebels and one man complained from the cross that he was a citizen. So the general had him taken down, the cross was painted white as a mark of distinction, and he was re-crucified.
It's actually true but there's some slight error in his explanation. First it wasn't Romans that were carrying out the crucifixion. It was emporor Galba in spain. The reason for this is simple. The Romans were usually the ones crucifying people. Now one of them who knew this couldn't happen to him on Roman soil cried out. The emperor just made his cross higher and even painted it white
As a mere 10 year old, messing around a building site, I trod on a 6 inch nail that went straight through the sole of my sneekers and straight through my foot and the pain was unbearable, the hardest thing was whether to decide to lift my foot up or not, but i did and went straight to hospital.. believe me.. you really don't want to go thru that !
Whilst an inch or two of toes are visible, the rest of the toe-bones go half-way up the foot, with appropriate nerve-endings there. Placing the nail mid-foot meant the whole body weight would rest on those sensitive nerves, inducing the cruxee to lift himself up by the arms to relieve pain, which in turn would induce pain elsewhere. An ultimately no-win situation.
@@EllieMaes-Grandadsadistically marketed created by the Roman empire..they delivered on their promise so God father used God son Jesus christs suffering so none could mock him for he truly suffered more than any mortal.
One thing that is always missed in descriptions of this torture is that to decrease the pressure on the lungs in order to inhale, the sufferer had to raise the torso up with the legs. The effect of this was soon clear and excruciating: the muscles at the back of the thighs (the semitendinosus and the biceps femoris) would cramp. A fate almost too horrible to contemplate.
I guess you can expect anything from someone that is stupid enough to believe that "a god" can ben crucified by people. Jesus did not die on the cross. Jesus was never crucified and he was no god.
This is the channel I've been wanting to find forever. The social history of rome seems to have been only gaining major attention in recent decades and it's incredibly important to us to understand in Western countries. The idea of Rome as this mythologised, prosperous, fair society, I think, has done massive amounts of damage. Our societies are so heavily inspired by Rome in a plethora ways, and by understanding the inescapable flaws of it helps us to understant why our modern world is so cruel and fucked up. Keep up the good work.
I'm struggling to understand how you mean that our modern society is "so cruel and fucked up". Do you mean that domestically or in terms of war, or what? 🤔
Very informative and helpful. I read years ago that if the Roman soldiers failed to crucity a condemned person properly (still alive when taken down) they stood the risk of themselves receiving the same brutal punishment. Thats quite an incentive to do the job right.
Jesus is an exceptional case in many respects, the whole point of crucification was to prolong the suffering for days, not just hours. I expect the Roman soldiers in the years afterwards who adopted Christianity, saw Jesus' executioners as actually as being merciful, and the Father being merciful by taking Him quickly. Which seems odd by today's standards. Imagine identifying with the the soldiers in the story as the "good guys". 😱
Really puts things into perspective. I'm an Assyrian Christian, it's crazy this is the first time I'm hearing crucifixion happened in Assyria although it makes sense given the brutal past and the cross symbol was used by ancient Assyrians, who later became some of the earliest Christians (others becoming Jewish even earlier and Muslim later.)
Yes the romans did not invent Crucifixion. It was used by Assyriens, then the persians and Phonecians of carthage. And romans went to war with Carthage during the the 3 punic wars. Thats where they would have seen it and learned about. The romans simply learned and mastered Crucifixion . They could a keep victim and make suffering worse. A century after Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth . The romans used Crucifixion af entertainment in places like the Coloseum between gladiator and animals fights.
Assyrians were also known for impalement. That became widely popular among the Ottomans against Armenians as survviors described Ottoman soldiers capturing village elder, impairing them, dismember their arms and legs while alive, and then proceed to light them on fire. That was one of the worst accounts I've come across. The Armenian holocaust sure was a horrible event that reflected ancient times in a modern age.
@@madwellmusic8995 Yes indeed and my family who are Assyrians/Syriacs/Arameans(Aramaic speakers) were with our Armenian brothers and sisters (our churches are both very close too) when the Ottomans committed genocide against us, horrible stories I can't say on youtube. As for impalement, the Ottomans got some of that treatment too from Vlad Tepis (Dragula/Dracula) of Romania, truly dark times. But I'll say since the times of Jonah when Assyrians repented (we still celebrate this with a fast every year,) we haven't been a violent militarized people.
It’s the first time you’re hearing it because it’s not true!!! Are you really an Assyrian? Because you sound more like a brainwashed child. Assyrian tactics of “brutality” were no better or worse than any other empire of that time. It’s sad that Assyrian “brutality” is the highlight of most discussions when it comes to Assyrians. Even more sad that Assyrians like you just accept the bs spewed about your people without even questioning it. Allow me to educate you on some of your ancestors accomplishments. Here are 100 major accomplishments of the Assyrian Empire… Development of cuneiform writing Introduction of the concept of libraries and archives Construction of aqueducts and irrigation systems Development of a centralized government system Creation of a legal code Establishment of a postal system Development of a calendar Promotion of trade and commerce Construction of canals and dams Introduction of the use of coins for trade Development of an efficient tax system Creation of a uniform system of weights and measures Building of impressive palaces and temples Introduction of the use of glazed bricks in construction Pioneering the use of the arch in architecture Development of sculpture and bas-reliefs Introduction of the concept of royal gardens Advancement of metallurgy and metalworking techniques Creation of intricate jewelry and ornaments Establishment of an organized court system Development of astronomy and astrology Pioneering the use of the water clock for timekeeping Introduction of the sundial for timekeeping Development of medicine and pharmacology Creation of the first hospitals and medical schools Establishment of a system of public hygiene and sanitation Introduction of the use of soap for personal hygiene Development of textiles and weaving techniques Production of fine pottery and ceramics Pioneering the use of glass in manufacturing Advancement of shipbuilding and seafaring techniques Introduction of the concept of diplomacy Establishment of a system of ambassadors and diplomatic missions Development of agriculture and horticulture Introduction of the concept of crop rotation Advancement of animal husbandry and breeding techniques Creation of a system of land surveys and mapping Pioneering the use of the plow in agriculture Establishment of a system of road networks Development of the concept of urban planning Construction of impressive public works projects Introduction of the concept of civil engineering Pioneering the use of siege engines and battering rams in warfare Introduction of the use of chariots in warfare Development of the concept of military tactics and strategy Creation of a system of military training and discipline Establishment of a system of military ranks and promotions Pioneering the use of iron weapons and armor in warfare Advancement of horse breeding and cavalry tactics Introduction of the use of siege towers in warfare Development of the concept of siege warfare Construction of impressive fortifications and defensive walls Introduction of the use of catapults in warfare Establishment of a system of military intelligence and espionage Development of the concept of warfare propaganda Pioneering the use of naval warfare tactics and technology Introduction of the use of naval warships Establishment of a system of border control and security Creation of a system of hostage exchange for diplomacy Advancement of the art of horsemanship and equestrian sports Introduction of the concept of chariot racing Development of the sport of wrestling Pioneering the use of musical instruments and music notation Creation of epic poems and literature Establishment of a system of education and scholarship Introduction of the concept of philosophy and logic Development of the study of mathematics and geometry Pioneering the use of algebraic notation Establishment of a system of justice and punishment Creation of a system of apprenticeship and vocational training Introduction of the concept of art as a form of cultural expression Development of the art of calligraphy Pioneering the use of engraving and intaglio printing techniques Creation of the art of mosaic and tile work Establishment of a system of patronage for the arts Introduction of the concept of art restoration and conservation Development of the art of perfumery and fragrance making Pioneering the use of the distillation process for making alcohol and perfume Creation of a system of public entertainment, such as plays and concerts Establishment of a system of religious tolerance and coexistence Introduction of the concept of religious syncretism Development of the art of dance and choreography Pioneering the use of puppetry and marionettes in entertainment Creation of the first zoo and botanical gardens Establishment of a system of animal welfare and conservation Introduction of the concept of public sanitation and hygiene Development of the concept of environmental conservation and sustainability Pioneering the use of wind power and water power for energy Creation of the first steam engine and steam power technology Establishment of a system of public transportation, such as roads and bridges Introduction of the concept of mass transit, such as horse-drawn carriages and carts Development of the concept of public health and healthcare infrastructure Pioneering the use of anesthesia and surgical techniques Creation of the concept of mental healthcare and psychology Establishment of a system of social welfare and support for the poor and disabled Introduction of the concept of charity and philanthropy Development of the concept of social justice and equality Pioneering the use of democracy and participatory government Creation of the concept of constitutional law and political rights Establishment of the first empire in the world with a powerful bureaucracy and administrativ
@@madwellmusic8995 I'm not sure any of that actually happened in the Armenian Genocide, although I don't doubt a genocide took place (something Turkey still denies and has imprisoned Turks who affirm it)
@@weemac4645 Take great care that you don't wake up and find it was there all the time and have it weigh you down, take up your own cross while it is still light enough to bear
Well when you never figure out water sweetened with lead along with constantly drinking alcohol while inbreeding could negatively effect every fetus being made, it really can cause some hiccups for becoming human : P
That's only because you're like billions of other people who hold out false hope that we represent the virtual pinnacle of civilization striving towards an inevitable utopia.
Always so sobering to be reminded of the fact that this respected and mythologized empire was in fact an extremely brutal and effective dystopian dictatorship.
DK viking KD True. And once Christianity became the official religion of Rome ( and eventually all of Europe ) it was the Christian's turn to wield the instruments of torture against the remaining pagans and Christian "heretics". The Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne in 782 cut the heads off of 4,500 Saxons at the Massacre of Verden for refusing to convert to Christianity. Pagan shrines were torn down and it was the non Christian's who now had to fear religious persecution from the State. Of course mentioning the multiple Crusades and later the Inquisition goes without saying. And later, John Calvin, the hero to so many fans of the Protestant Reformation was complicit in the burning alive of Spanish theologian and medical Dr Michael Servetus in Geneva, Switzerland in 1553. His crime was that he did not adhere to the orthodoxy of trinitarian beliefs nor in infant baptism. Of course the only sensible thing to do was to burn him alive. PS, cutting off heads and burning people alive seems to have become a favorite method of ISIS in disposing of religious criminals as well. Judaism, Christianity and Islam share so much.
Definitely among the most painful ways to die in history. The places of the body in which the nails were hammered through, the hands or wrists and the feet, caused minimal bleeding and maximum pain, as intended by the Romans. The major nerves of the hands were damaged by the nails. Imagine what it would have felt like to have those parts of your body pierced by metal nails when Roman soldiers hammered them down. It would have been intense pain for hours, especially when trying to speak or breathe. This method of execution was meant to humiliate the one convicted, and it was meant to hurt as much as possible by the person on the cross needing to use all of their strength to lift themselves up to breathe, which triggered their nerves and caused muscle cramps in their legs, torso, and arms. Absolutely horrible. I would never want to die in such an agonizing manner.
So true. Even pertaining to me; If I was ever given the death penalty, my choice would be a firing squad because death happens so fast, you really don't experience the pain. And to think in some Muslim countries they actually crucify Christians. They claim to love Jesus, but they don't. Even the Jesus they believe in is not the Jesus of the Bible. Not all Muslims are so extreme, but there's many in countries like the Sudan that fall into this category.
@@helenaziegler6005A properly done impaling can last for days, just like crucifixion, I'd put them at a tie. Boiling would also be horrible, but wouldn't last as long.
@@shawntailor5485 So all the thousands of others suffered for nothing then? What's wrong with people? One two part question for people with superstitious religious beliefs. (A) If someone told you (or you read in a book) that the sun used matches and candles to spread light and heat at night. Would it be obvious to you, how self evidently illogical, irrational, unreasonable and nonsensical this idea was? (Would you understand why)? (B) If someone told you (or you read in a book) that something capable of creating a universe and everything in it, used puny humans and books to spread accurate information. Would it be obvious to you, how self evidently illogical, irrational, unreasonable and nonsensical this idea was? (Would you understand why)? All gods are imaginary. No people = No imagined gods.
Learning about how common this practice was, thinking about what it would symbolise in the consiousness of the population - has just led me to a sudden realisation about what the Christian symbol of the crucifix might have meant to them, how deep a chord it must've strummed in their hearts. It's message was probably a lot closer to the modern anarchist (A) than to the modern perception of the crucifix. Christians learn that it's all about Christ's metaphysical sacrifice for us and how it freed us from our sins. But, originally, it must have been very real and political, striking thoughts of rebellion and need for change into their minds. [just a thought; I am by no means a scholar of this topic and should not be taken too seriously:) ]
Your instincts are correct- the decision to reclaim the cross as a triumphal symbol of hope in future resurrection (thus meaning that even Rome’s worst punishment had no real hold over them) was a conscious decision of the first Christians
@@tribunateSPQR Awesome. The more I learn about the history of Christianity and what it actually meant originally, the more respect I have for it as a philosophy. It was essentialy a massive anti-imperialist and progressive force for change and personal freedom; and most people (even Christians) get it sooo wrong it's just sad! Thanks for the video:)
It's shocking how cruel people were back then, not sure what's worse, crucifixion, the brazen bull or the slow slice, I consider those 3 to be the most brutal forms of execution
Economy of the empire was very much based on inhumane exploitation of slaves. They were a high percentage of the population. Their total subjugation was necessary for the imperial system to work. It is true that some were freed after long service but that was usually for close servants of the family, not for physical laborers.
I've found the most painful injuries I've had to get numb before very long, after which no aggravation is nearly as bad as the first shock, prior to the endorphins kicking in. So I'd expect there were probably some literal die-hard rebels who took to taunting the Romans with "Is that all you got", "A life of slavery is worse than this", or some such. And probably met a quicker death, just to shut them up. Like the fellow (in the account I read) who was pressed with stones during the Salem with hunt era who just kept saying "more weight" even as his ribs were cracking until he died and could say no more. Which incident reportedly helped bring an end to the practice, his fortitude having won over the onlookers, many of whom came to realize the witch hunts were indeed a sham.
@@xxplasticxx4893 The account I read was of a man, or perhaps I'd mistaken their name for male. But would not be surprised if there were women who were likewise heroic.
And what exacty are your most painful injuries? In general, severe trauma tends to be less pain inducing when the shock and adrenaline first occurs. Seems like you have the opposite reaction to it compared to most humans. You can look that up if you don't believe me.
@@hadrian318 Shouldn't humans seek to be more than mere animals? Just because things were a certain way before doesn't mean they should stay that way for ever. Look at all the progress humans have made in the last 500 generations. We should always strive to be better.
Here in good old Manchester, our delightful Romans subjected us enforced toe-stubbing, scroll cuts & very harsh looping of Britnius Spearus’ ‘Hit me baby one more time’. Dreadful days, I must say….
One of the historical records on crucifixion I've read indicated that nails were driven through the victim's palms not to affix the person to cross, but to increase the pain associated with the process. There's a bundle of nerves (pressure point) that runs right below the last knuckle of the thumb, and driving a nail through that point on the palm will simply increase the agony endured by the victim. It's also pretty well understood that the wrist isn't strong enough to support someone's weight if the person is suspended from a single, large spike through the wrist. One of the points that I didn't hear mentioned in this video is that once the transverse beam was affixed to the cross, the cross was stood up and then dropped into the hole that would hold it upright. This was done specifically to dislocate the victim's shoulders, increasing the pain as well as making it more difficult for them to inhale a full breath. If the person was only affixed to the cross by a nail through each wrist, that dropping motion would present a serious risk of doing significant damage to the victim's hands, potentially causing their upper bodies to come off the cross...which is something the Romans absolutely didn't want to happen.
It is nice that we imagine that people made so much effort about it. In reality, they bound him to a pole, a tree, or a cross and it did not matter to anyone how the person died. On the via appia 4000 rebellious slaves against Rome were crucified.
Raising them up on the whole cross to dislocate the shoulders? First time I heard of that was Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Typically the main pole was fixed in place and the condemned carried the crossbar to the site, where the executioners would hoist him aloft and secured him to the cross (typically a T because that was easiest to assemble) and provided him a seat of shame to prolong the agony and maximize the humiliation as much as possible (Seneca, Moral Epistles 101.10-14).
I don't think they used nails, typically the victim wasn't worth the cost of the nail, rope was alot easier and would have kept them alive in the sun longer than bleeding out. Also pretty sure they mostly used an X and not a t as a cross, the t was the symbol of CHRESTIANS long before Jesus came along, I think the X was far more common practice because it's easier to build and to stand up, again, the victim wasn't with the effort.
For a process that was so common in practice in the Roman Empire there is almost no archeological evidence remaining. There is one foot bone with a nail through it; that is all. Apparently some doubt that nails were driven through the hands or wrists. Driving nails through wrist would have severed arteries and would have caused the victim to bleed too quickly thereby denying the perverse enjoyment of the the perpetrators.
@@joebuck4496 maybe but I think it could be more common the usage of rope only and putting the arms of the victim in such a position that it would be as painful as possible but also cheap.
I would guess that the perpetrators most of the times didn't do it for their enjoyment, but because it was the law. The Roman world is often cruel, but it's not barbaric. Their laws are laws, not just martial lawlessness.
A second foot bone with a nail in it was found near Cambridge England, as part of a whole skeleton. Two other skeletons were found, one in Italy and one in Egypt, each with a hole passing through the heel but no nail. The one in Italy indicated that they drove the nail through the heel with the outside of the ankle against the cross, demonstrating the Romans knew how to utterly humiliate the condemned. This is graphically depicted in the Pozzuoli Graffito, showing a nailed and penetrated male dubbed with the female name Alkimila.
I would imagine that, just like today with the issue of capital punishment, there were probably a lot of Romans who were against crucifixion. Even Roman senators looked at it as too brutal, too disgusting, too inhumane.
It’s both disturbing and fascinating just how truly horrible humans, societies, and governments can be. I’m sure there are many things we do today that will be looked at as awful in 100+ years from now.
Yes, the executions were always carried out in public places and prolonged for as long as possible in order to instill fear into the hearts of subject populations. It's the height of barbarism
@@stultusvenator3233 I went to the Catholic church so I noticed the very realistic Jesus hanging on the wall, starved, weeping and bleeding. I only ask what effect it would have on impressionable youths. Christendom needs to rethink their core focuses. I believe that Jesus did not die for our sins but because of our sins. The people who are oppressed by the Romans end up working with them to condemn a Man simply for something he said. To me, that's the true tragedy.
I know this channel is dedicated towards documenting the history of Rome and not specifically Christianity, but hearing of how much my Lord and God suffered on the cross fills me with misery and thanksgiving for His suffering.
Add to that the word "decimate" comes from a Roman disciplinary practice within their own army wherein 1 out of 10 men would be killed at random.... by the 9 who didn't draw the shortest straw. The Romans were brutal af.
I can’t imagine the pressure and pain in the shoulders and arms. Even if you could place weight on the nail through your feet to take pressure off your shoulders. The pain would be hell on earth. They tied his biceps to the cross? Your body weight would tear your rotator cuffs as your body attempts to detach from your arms. Jesus story or not, people suffered this way….. thousands of people.
Really well made video thank you it was great to watch also Spartacuses origins can be tracked back to my country of Bulgaria or as it was Thrace back then also next to Macedonia I like your reference with Alexander the Great I think he was much to inspire the Romanum Imperium as we know it.
I'm familiar with crucifixion and many other execution methods, but the vivid detailing of this video made me almost faint. It's very well put together I must say. Also it wasn't my smartest decision to watch it at 3am. lol.
I mean, probably a place to place thing. I know when I was learning massage the Russians considered the butt to be part of the torso, even though I consider it the leg.
@@shane4976 Maybe it was, but was it in this context? Alama translated to "young woman" not virgin, and it gets way worse. Anglican theologian E. W. Bullinger, in The Companion Bible (which was completed and published in 1922,[16] nine years after his 1913 death), was emphatic in his belief that stauros never meant two pieces of timber placed across one another at any angle, "but always of one piece alone ... There is nothing [of the word stauros] in the Greek of the N.T. even to imply two pieces of timber." Bullinger wrote that in the catacombs of Rome Christ was never represented there as "hanging on a cross" and that the cross was a pagan symbol of life (the ankh) in Egyptian churches that was borrowed by the Christians.
@@stultusvenator3233 Firstly, we have at least 2 pieces of graffiti surviving from the first few centuries AD that depict a crucifixion, including the Alexamenos graffito from around the year 200 which is likely meant to be a mockery of Jesus specifically, and the graffito of Alkimilla from Puteoli, and both of them depict the crucified on a T shaped cross. So I think it's a reach to say Christians just looked at the ankh and said "Yeah, we'll make this random pagan symbol our main thing." The reason Christians in the early days did not usually depict Christ crucified at all (I've certainly never seen early art of him on anything other than a T-shaped cross) was because of the social stigma of crucifixion as a horrific and shameful death reserved for the lowest of the low. That aside, you asked for a source on if ancient peoples considered the wrist as part of the hand. I gave you a secular source defining the definition of "cheir" in Koine Greek in which it is defined as including the whole of the arm.
I remember as a kid growing up in church and learning about salvation. My granny used to tell us kids when she got really upset with us. She was going to crucify us. I didn't know what that meant at first. But after some years i looked it up and found out what she was talking about.
I highly doubt that she would really actually crucify anyone. It was just one of her figures of speech. Especially when she got really mad. The Romans used crucifixion and various other methods of execution to control the population. Get rid of enemies of the state, and to punish criminals.
Much insight to be had here. However this documentary fails to explore the dimension of /shame/ in the ancient world, and the integral part that this was in the process of crucifixion. Yes, it was horrifying to the general populace; but more than that, it was /shameful/, and fully designed to obliterate any honour the person might have had. There is also the added dimension of the fact that having one's body hung on a scaffold was a near-universal sign of accursedness. The final sentence of this video, though, is excellent and well worth pondering: "In the end, the memory of one victim of crucifixion changed the moral arc of an entire empire." Well said.
Wow, that is quite disturbing! To think that they were slaves to begin with and ended life in such a barbaric way... Something I like to remember is that people of the past, especially the ancient past were not wimps. Just surviving birth and childhood was a miracle. When there are descriptions of these people's pain and suffering I believe it really was suffering. People of today in most 1st world countries including myself know not what true suffering is for the most part. We have been coddled since birth.... Certainly not everyone, but definitely myself... There has always been a pill for every ill and I have lived a relatively cushy life.... I don't think I would have lasted very long back in the day... Which makes history such as this video all the more interesting!
On a similar note, you can't leave a child home alone unless they're 13 or older, I believe... I was letting myself in the house after school (and staying alone for hours) when I was 7 or 8. Our society is pathetic. I'm not tough as I'd like to be, either. Cheers
One thing I never understood, the victim was made to carry their cross to the place of execution. Why did they not simply say "no!" They were already condemmed to the most painful death imaginable, what could the Romans threaten them with?
More pain, obviously, followed by the same excruciating death. Castrate them. Pull their fingernails out. Gouge an eye out. Every legion contained a group of trained torturers ready to deal with spies and traitors captured in the field, and to act as executioners. They were utterly methodical about it, so don't think they didn't have every contingency covered.
_Crucifixion?_ Err, no freedom actually _What?_ Yeah they said I hadn't done anything wrong and I could go and live on an island somewhere _Oh, I say, that's very nice. Well off you go then_ Haha no, I'm just pulling your leg. It's crucifixion really _Oh yes, very good. Well.._ Yes I know, out the door, line on the left, one cross each
Thank you for including the information about the nails going through wrists. I’ve been telling people this information for 20 years and yet, all the depictions of Jesus with holes in his hands after resurrection make people think I’m lying. Why would I lie about that?
Except the purpose of driving nails through the hands was not to affix the person to the cross. Driving nails through the wrists, between the radius and ulna, won't provide enough support for the person to remain affixed to the cross. The nails will tear through the connective tissues in the wrist, either tearing all the way through the hand, or simply increasing the size of the wound enough to cause the person to fall off the cross. This video skipped the bit where the cross was dropped into a hole 4 - 6' deep with the victim already affixed to it, causing the person's shoulders to dislocate. That sudden stop would do tremendous damage to the soft tissue around the nails if there was no other affixion used.
@@lonnietoth5765 I was born & raised as a JW and this one always bugged me. Especially when you actually do some digging in to real history and realize that you are being fed a load of crap.
@@lonnietoth5765 my cousin was JW when we were kids and her picture book showed Jesus on a stake, not even a cross. A straight stake with his hands over his head, nailed together. Even as a kid, I knew that wouldn’t work. I remember asking my dad why the JW picture book had so many weird pictures that were different from the other picture books. His response is one I probably can’t post here haha
I understand- it wasn’t fun to research and write but we wanted the story to be told as authentically as possible out of respect for the many victims of the barbarous practice
Thank you, very glad that you've enjoyed our content - we try to add a little editorial perspective so that the videos aren't just a recitation of facts.
This account shows just how audaciously subversive or brazen Christians were to turn the cross into a symbol of God or divine power hitherto reserved to the emperor, and then to use it as a conversion tool that eventually conquered Rome.
YES! I had the same thought after watching this! I knew early Christians were revolutionary on a religious level, but I'd never really considered just how audacious they were in the face of the Romans. This channel has another video that goes into it further.
According to Josephus who was present at the siege of Jerusalem, he saw three friends crucified. He asked Titus, the son of Vespasian, to free them. They were taken down, and one of them survived.
Often there was a seat supplied which further excruciated the crucified and humiliated in total shame. Being a spike or tapered peg attached to a strut, it was called a "piercing cross" Seneca described it this way, quoting Maceneas: "'You may nail me up and set for my seat the piercing cross.' Do you think it a trifle to press one's own wound and hang impaled on a gibbet?" (Moral Epistles 101.10-14) This is borne out in 3 visual depictions of crucifixion or a cross: Pozzuoli Graffito Vivat Crux Graffito Periere Gem (Bloodstone Gem at the British Museum) Additional sources: Virgil, Catalepton 2a.18 Achilles Tatius 2.37.3 Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 40.1-3 and 91.1-2 Irenaeus, Against Heresies 4.24.4 Tertullian, Ad Nationes 1.12.3-4, An Answer to the Jews 10.7-8, & Against Marcion 3.18.3-4
@@tribunateSPQR You're quite welcome! Academia is only beginning to acknowledge this (David Tombs, The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ: Torture, Sexual Abuse, and the Scandal of the Cross). Crazy how people can be so blind for so long!
@@EllieMaes-Grandad Yes - two different names for the same item. Tertullian referred to the _sedile_ with the phrase, _illo sedilis excessu_ meaning "with that projecting/excessive seat". The word _excessu_ is the ablative of _excessus_ which means not only "projecting" but also "excessive for its purpose". (Lewis & Short, Elem. Lewis dictionaries) Hence the other term _cornu._
Do we know who would have done the actual process? I heard that the Romans had a similar view to Europeans when it came to torturers & executioners i.e. that they were "unclean" and generally shunned by "regular" folks. But it seems like if there was this many people being crucified they would have been a bit short on staff. I heard it in reference to the /a "carnifex" (admittedly in a historical fiction book!)
As @Jack Moorehead said, it would've been soldiers, though outside of Rome itself, it often would have been auxiliary troops--i.e. regionally enlisted or semi-professional soldiers.
@@musashidanmcgrath I meant Europe in later history, which is a period of time I know about with regard to the social stigma attached to performing executions or torture. I'm sure the Romans saw themselves as the Roman Empire and would draw a distinction between themselves and other parts of Europe - if indeed such a concept existed at the time. I know that about the Carnifex a little and references to that position mention that it had a similar amount of stigma attached to it. As such I was curious about *who* was doing the physical acts of scourging and crucifixion and if they had a similar stigma attached to them as a result of their participation. It seems like that isn't the case, so I'm curious to know why soldiers would "get a pass" on that.
Thanks for a very accurate scholarly and physiological depiction of crucifixion. Though it's described in detail in the biblical account of Jesus' execution, most people do not begin to appreciate the entire process the condemned suffered. That Jesus died so quickly when those beside him did not is remarkable.
Hi Julie. Not so remarkable really, there are two possibilities. The sponge soaked in vinegar given to Jesus by his disciples possibly contained hemlock to hasten his death and minimize his suffering. Socrates' death was by hemlock, and it starts on the lower limbs first, so Jesus would lose all pain from his lower injuries for a while. Suicide was acceptable in extreme cases, the bible's Samson (Judges 16: 26-28) asks God for the strength to kill himself in an act of revenge against the Philistines. God is not against suicide missions according to the bible. Also, king Saul deliberately falls on his sword to end his life. (1Sam, 31:4). Many people quietly abhorred the cruelties of the age and did what they could to minimize suffering. The second possibility is repugnant but must be honestly considered. Sponges-on-sticks were common, they were used in public toilets to wipe dirty backsides. They were kept in jars of vinegar. One gospel account has the stick being offered by the Roman soldiers, not his disciples, and this is coherent with the soldiers taunting him with a foul drink to quench his thirst, which rough brutal soldiers on execution duty would enjoy as much as casting lots for his clothing while he was still alive. These two options are equally likely, and as the two differing accounts were chosen by Jerome for the bible, I must assume he knew he was presenting the event in a contradictory way. It's very confusing until you consider that deliberately creating confusion might be the motive. Cheers, P.R.
Our Lord was so horribly scourged, a normal person would have died from that alone. I think that is why He died before the other 2 - He was already wounded to the point of death when He was crucified.
Josephus also says the Romans would nail people into wood in various positions for entertainment value. Supposedly they did this in Jerusalem after the Jewish revolt for days, until they ran out of wood. It's a vivid passage, one can imagine they may not have afforded all the victims their own individual cross, either.
Seneca describes how the soldiers would amuse themselves by creating the most grotesque displays possible: “Some hang their victims upside down. Some impale them through the private parts. Others stretch out their arms onto forked poles.”
"Vlad the Impale r" was very good at warding off troublesome neighbors, by having a head on a stick at the boundary of his realm. The Romans did the same.
No, he impaled the victims by having a pole shoved up their anus and exiting through the shoulder. If done properly, no major organs were damaged and the victim lived for days afterwards. Thousands of them. He called it his " Living forest ". He still ended up friendless and was caught and executed.
Both Vlad and the Romans impaled the body too, so the victim would suffer in sheer agony for a long time. In fact, Vlad was notorious for this! But the Romans preferred crucifixion due to its utterly shaming effect (Seneca Minor, Dialogues 6.20.3 & Moral Epistles 101.10-14).
I've got a hyperfixation on a 6th century Eastern Roman general who had a reputation for relative benevolence. I've gotten quite endeared to the man. I read that he had several people put to death but didn't get any specifics. Then I read a translation of the primary source and found out he used impalement. Cognitive dissonance is fun.
Yes, I've wanted to do Spartacus for a while but have avoided it as we want to do it right since the topic is so fascinating. There will likely be an entire series on Spartacus and his uprising
Well yeah naturally it happened before Christianity was even a religion. Jesus was Jewish, so naturally Christianity itself would have come after the initial concept of crucifixion.
A consideration for things which seem to cause unimaginable suffering is dissociation. It's a defence mechanism in the brain allowing a person to detach from suffering. Pain can seem distant for the person suffering. It can help a person endure the torment.
@@Mateus.007 if you survive. It's a good defence mechanism if death seems inevitable (which is why it evolved in wildlife - to preserve the mind in case escape becomes possible)
@@Mateus.007 dude they’re being fucking crucified not being bullied or something like that, I’m sure dissociating from that kind of pain is a natural thing for the mind to do when going through something so painful.
@@gorblin70 I suffered greatly from dissociation. I don't think it reduces the physical pain. Only if you achieve total colapse, maybe, but that's more rare for a human.
Much has been learnt in recent years, with studies and experiments carried out by scholars, with volunteers. It is true that the crucified ultimately died of suffocation. For every breath they needed the joint effort of the whole body. Picture this: the poor guy is basically hanging from his hands, which are nailed (or sometimes tied, big difference) to a horizontal beam (patibulum) and his feet, also nailed, but to a vertical pole, called stipe. Now, the stipe was, more often than not, a tree. A tree trunk. These crosses images (like the movie Espartaco, where the guy was like 10 feet high and the girl down there talking to him... listen here, talking! Poor Kirk Douglas had enough trouble only trying to breathe!) are most inaccurate. Especially in Siria, Gallilee and those parts, where the small sized trees were abundant. The romans were not stupid, in the same measure that they were brutal. Why build an enormous cross, when you can simply use a tree which is already there? Cut off the branches, sharpen the top so it can fit a hole made in the middle of the stipe, and off you go. They didn't even need a ladder. And sometimes, the feet were not pierced together, one on top of the other, but one feet on one side, the other feet on the other side. It's still not clear why they did this (following the roman logic, it implied using more nails), but there are two reasons which the scholars are debating: on the one hand, if fulfilled one of the ends of the crucifixion -the humiliation-; (think about it: you've been detained God knows when, then thrown to some dungeon; maybe they fed you, maybe not. The thing is, once you are pierced to the tree, the pain is just too much; you just can't control yourself; your sphincters give way and the feces slide down your legs... And your loved ones, friends, maybe neighbours are all there -keeping some distance, I guess-) but it is also possible that they did that when the legs of the convict were simply too long. And, there's still another theory that came up in recent times, which shows a much better use of the resources available: just one trunk (patibulum). Arms stretched over your head, pierced with one single nail; the legs, as we said. It serves the purpose equally well. But, back to the breathing issue; the death itself was usually caused by asphyxia; but what caused the asphyxia was the physical exhaustion. In order to breathe, the person needed to push his torso up, so the lungs can stretch and he can get a mouthful of air. How does he achieve that? Well, he must forget the pain, and let the nail in his feet bear the weight of his body. At the same time, in a similar manner, pull up using the nails in his hands as support. You hold on like this as much as you can and suck in all the air you can, before letting yourself fall back to the previous position. One can only imagine the excruciating pain. All the muscles on your back try to help, but the romans didn't care if a little branch was left here and there... So this only adds to the pain. Horrible.
Add to that a vertical peg, shaped like a rhinoceros horn, that the crucified individual had to sit on when he slumped, to relieve the pain in his hands. Only it pierced his anus and he slid down until a point where it was stout enough to keep him in place. This was totally shameful and what made it the worst was, he knew he would have to press up again in order to breathe! Look up Pozzuoli Graffito, this is depicted in graphic detail.
Roman crucifixion was a form of punishment reserved for the worst criminals, such as rebels and slaves. It was a public spectacle and was meant to be a deterrent to others who might consider taking actions against Rome. Crucifixion was a slow, torturous death that was meant to convey a message that the Roman state was all-powerful and that any challenge to its authority would lead to severe consequences. By displaying the crucified bodies in a public space, the Romans hoped to send a strong message to the masses that they were in control, and any act of rebellion would only lead to a similar fate. This practice was also intended to instill fear and discourage people from committing crimes, leading to a more stable and authoritarian society.
Some factoids: There was a heel bone of a crucified individual found with a nail still embedded in it. Traces of wood were found between the nail head and the bone, indicating a wooden washer to prevent pulling your limb through the nail head. Thus, it's believed that two shorter nails were driven through the heels into the sides of the stake, rather than one through the feet. Two more possible candidates have been found, pretty much confirming it. Additionally, it's been found that- once you're affixed to the cross- you actually fall outwards, with your back far away from the cross. During the filming of The Gospel of John, the actors literally had to be affixed by the waist to stay against the cross. The wood-scraping idea is probably not a thing that actually happened.
I agree with the first part at least. I saw the same thing about the feet on either side of the beam with the nail though the heel in some cases. I didn’t know about the hanging thing, but interesting.
Rome used brutal force to forge and hold her ancient empire together. However, our modern world wars killed on a scale that would shock and awe even the bloodiest-minded Roman!
Not real. There is a few roman battles that still to this day has the higest body count for a one day battle. Rome v hannibel had 1 fight that still hold the record of nearly 200 thousands in just one day . Think on that . Thats 200 thousands men sticking bits of metal into eachother at close contac.
Interesting how you have 9k subs and yet 14k Likes on this vid. I don't think I've seen that before. Brilliantly detailed account and l enjoyed your responses to some of the Comments too.
@@tribunateSPQR I know right. All the memes about Assyria I hear is how cruel they were. And when you're cruel by 1st millennium BC standards you are cruel with a capital C
Not to mention that if the knees are placed at an angle high up into your chest it asphyxiates you and slowly causes your heart rate to rise resulting in tachycardia and potentially a heart attack from not being able to breathe
when Rome tried to invade Germania in something like 8 a.d. they received one of the most crushing defeats in their history. Three legions were annihilated in a place nicknamed "the black forest." after the battle, many Roman survivors were crucified to pine trees as sacrifices to Odin. I always thought the message in this was, "Let's see how YOU like it?'" Not much, apparently. a thousand years later the black forest gave rise to such stories as Little Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wold,and Hansel and Gretel.
Good research. Crosses were not that high as depicted in pictures, they were at eye level so people could see up close the true horror of crucifixion. These people were barbaric.
Apparently, the popular image of being nailed to a cross is false as the weight of the victim's body would soon pull the hands away from the nails causing the body to fall. The arms would have been roped to the horizontal beams although it's possible that the feet may have been nailed, but more likely roped as well.
I forget who, but there were a few Roman writers who mentioned nailing the condemned to a cross. It’s possible that they were alternated depending on what was available.
@simongee8928 Forensic study on corpses showed that if the nails were driven through the palm, they would tear through the hand from the weight. However, there is a space in the wrist where a nail could be driven, and the bones and tendons would be able to hold a body in place. It was also where the medial nerve passes through. The nail would either sever or damage the nerve, causing incredible pain.
Wow...good vid! I've seen Ceasers on Obilisks , Greek hero's pyramids , Colossi of Memnon , on top of the twin pyramids at Lake Moeris...representing the King n Queen..on n on. Luv'n these vids showing some real history , His story..etc.
Awesome video and very well done. Will you do a video about what it was like to be condemned to the circus? (Yes I realize how absurd that sentence sounds... Pun intended...)
Thank you! This is the first entry in a series we’re working on covering capital punishment in Rome, we definitely have plans to get to the Arena soon and cover all the sordid events that took place there.
"Crucifixion?" "Yes." "Good, line on the left, one cross each, crucifixion?" "Ah, no freedom. They said I hadn't done anything so I could go free and live on an island somewhere" "Oh, that's jolly good, well off you go then" "Nah, I'm only pulling your leg, it's crucifixion really!" Always look on the bright side of being brutally tortured to death ;)
![[안방1열 직캠4K] 베이비몬스터 치키타 'DRIP' (BABYMONSTER CHIQUITA FanCam) @SBS Inkigayo 241110](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tnlxo79cAqY/mqdefault.jpg)
Check out our video explaining how historians know Jesus existed: th-cam.com/video/o5GdcSFiRq0/w-d-xo.html
Might I ask you when did the Romans begin and stop using Crucifixion?
I've tried searching for this answer, I can't seem to find real answers.
God Bless (If the answer is in this video I will retract this) Watching now.
The existence of a real Jesus, a rabbi (or the equivalent word "master") who would have preached Judaism not Christianity, is accepted - it is the gospellers' Christ which is a bunch of lies that falsely accused the Jewish elite of the murder of their mythic hero.
Zero Eyewitness of Jesus means it did not happen
Interesting video, a grizzly way to go. One question: As it is described, a person, weighing between 100 - 150 pound person would be hung on the top part of what looked like an 8 to 10 foot pole.
That makes the cross very top heavy, which is prone to breakage and tipping over -- unless the pole was as wide as a modern telephone pole, and would need to have been put at least 4feet into the ground to prevent this tipping over.
Add to the fact that rain, cold, and the executed " precious bodily fluids" would rot the wood in a short period of time
The question is: did any literature describe how these horrible things were maintained?
They adopted crucifixion about 200 BC. It was outlawed in AD 341.
No wonder the word "excruciating" has the same root as the cross itself.
Ummm...
Excruciating would refer to removing someone from a cross, an almost impossible feat if they are nailed on. It would probably require ripping the nails through the flesh, destroying the wrist in the process., or a similar procedure but with the hole enlarged by a knife first. You might survive but highly unlikely.
If you are being unleashed for removal you would feel tremendous pressures in your chest. That may be what the word refers to.
Ex meaning "out" (think exit) crux being cross, so translated is meaning "out of the Cross"
yeah so like he said, same root..
@@lsixty30
Out , or FROM the cross.
What you get out of the cross or from the cross.
Surely youre not suggesting that "excruciating" is somehow relief from crucifixion ?
Excruciating is what you get out or from the cross.
Certainly, an excruciating religion.
Sometimes the prohibition on crucifying Roman citizens was not observed. I read in one case a Roman general was crucifying rebels and one man complained from the cross that he was a citizen. So the general had him taken down, the cross was painted white as a mark of distinction, and he was re-crucified.
Damn...!!! Do you have a source of this?
Yes, very based
@@fgcpeak9591His theory is unfounded, like most of the controversial stories of the "holy" books!
It's actually true but there's some slight error in his explanation. First it wasn't Romans that were carrying out the crucifixion. It was emporor Galba in spain. The reason for this is simple. The Romans were usually the ones crucifying people. Now one of them who knew this couldn't happen to him on Roman soil cried out. The emperor just made his cross higher and even painted it white
@@verity4917 it's funny so it must be true
As a mere 10 year old, messing around a building site, I trod on a 6 inch nail that went straight through the sole of my sneekers and straight through my foot and the pain was unbearable, the hardest thing was whether to decide to lift my foot up or not, but i did and went straight to hospital.. believe me.. you really don't want to go thru that !
Whilst an inch or two of toes are visible, the rest of the toe-bones go half-way up the foot, with appropriate nerve-endings there. Placing the nail mid-foot meant the whole body weight would rest on those sensitive nerves, inducing the cruxee to lift himself up by the arms to relieve pain, which in turn would induce pain elsewhere. An ultimately no-win situation.
my young sister walked around for (2) weeks with rusty nail in her foot heel, peetty awful all around!
Six Inch Nails was the name of Trent Reznor's band when he was in High School.
@@lindanorris2455why?
@@EllieMaes-Grandadsadistically marketed created by the Roman empire..they delivered on their promise so God father used God son Jesus christs suffering so none could mock him for he truly suffered more than any mortal.
One thing that is always missed in descriptions of this torture is that to decrease the pressure on the lungs in order to inhale, the sufferer had to raise the torso up with the legs. The effect of this was soon clear and excruciating: the muscles at the back of the thighs (the semitendinosus and the biceps femoris) would cramp. A fate almost too horrible to contemplate.
And if you were still breathing- legs broke, so as you said😵
I guess you can expect anything from someone that is stupid enough to believe that "a god" can ben crucified by people.
Jesus did not die on the cross. Jesus was never crucified and he was no god.
Not forgetting Semimembranosus
Great…..here’s me on my cross with half my back somewhere else & bloody cramp sets in. All I need now is a paper cut!
@@JMc-xi6ii Good one, Julie!
14:32 - the barbaric cruelty of crucifixion aside, I was not prepared for Emperor Constantine's anime eyes.
r/brandnewsentence
UvU
You beat me to it @@antokarman2064
This is the channel I've been wanting to find forever. The social history of rome seems to have been only gaining major attention in recent decades and it's incredibly important to us to understand in Western countries. The idea of Rome as this mythologised, prosperous, fair society, I think, has done massive amounts of damage. Our societies are so heavily inspired by Rome in a plethora ways, and by understanding the inescapable flaws of it helps us to understant why our modern world is so cruel and fucked up. Keep up the good work.
That’s more or less a perfect summary of our mission statement- really glad to know there is such interest in an unvarnished look at the Romans
I'm struggling to understand how you mean that our modern society is "so cruel and fucked up". Do you mean that domestically or in terms of war, or what? 🤔
*modern world
Are you implying that the world was less cruel and fucked up in the past?
@@tribunateSPQRSpengler’s Decline of the West is probably the master class on how different Roman and Western civilization really are.
Very informative and helpful. I read years ago that if the Roman soldiers failed to crucity a condemned person properly (still alive when taken down) they stood the risk of themselves receiving the same brutal punishment. Thats quite an incentive to do the job right.
Thats why speared like jesus
Jesus is an exceptional case in many respects, the whole point of crucification was to prolong the suffering for days, not just hours. I expect the Roman soldiers in the years afterwards who adopted Christianity, saw Jesus' executioners as actually as being merciful, and the Father being merciful by taking Him quickly. Which seems odd by today's standards. Imagine identifying with the the soldiers in the story as the "good guys". 😱
And the Harry Potter "unforgivable" torture curse "crucio!"
@@squirlmy I mean they make a very clear line between “good” Roman soldiers and “bad” Roman soldiers in catholic texts
Sounds like BS to me. They didn't take them down until they were dead. That was the point.
Really puts things into perspective. I'm an Assyrian Christian, it's crazy this is the first time I'm hearing crucifixion happened in Assyria although it makes sense given the brutal past and the cross symbol was used by ancient Assyrians, who later became some of the earliest Christians (others becoming Jewish even earlier and Muslim later.)
Yes the romans did not invent Crucifixion. It was used by Assyriens, then the persians and Phonecians of carthage. And romans went to war with Carthage during the the 3 punic wars. Thats where they would have seen it and learned about. The romans simply learned and mastered Crucifixion . They could a keep victim and make suffering worse. A century after Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth . The romans used Crucifixion af entertainment in places like the Coloseum between gladiator and animals fights.
Assyrians were also known for impalement. That became widely popular among the Ottomans against Armenians as survviors described Ottoman soldiers capturing village elder, impairing them, dismember their arms and legs while alive, and then proceed to light them on fire. That was one of the worst accounts I've come across. The Armenian holocaust sure was a horrible event that reflected ancient times in a modern age.
@@madwellmusic8995 Yes indeed and my family who are Assyrians/Syriacs/Arameans(Aramaic speakers) were with our Armenian brothers and sisters (our churches are both very close too) when the Ottomans committed genocide against us, horrible stories I can't say on youtube. As for impalement, the Ottomans got some of that treatment too from Vlad Tepis (Dragula/Dracula) of Romania, truly dark times. But I'll say since the times of Jonah when Assyrians repented (we still celebrate this with a fast every year,) we haven't been a violent militarized people.
It’s the first time you’re hearing it because it’s not true!!!
Are you really an Assyrian? Because you sound more like a brainwashed child.
Assyrian tactics of “brutality” were no better or worse than any other empire of that time. It’s sad that Assyrian “brutality” is the highlight of most discussions when it comes to Assyrians. Even more sad that Assyrians like you just accept the bs spewed about your people without even questioning it.
Allow me to educate you on some of your ancestors accomplishments.
Here are 100 major accomplishments of the Assyrian Empire…
Development of cuneiform writing
Introduction of the concept of libraries and archives
Construction of aqueducts and irrigation systems
Development of a centralized government system
Creation of a legal code
Establishment of a postal system
Development of a calendar
Promotion of trade and commerce
Construction of canals and dams
Introduction of the use of coins for trade
Development of an efficient tax system
Creation of a uniform system of weights and measures
Building of impressive palaces and temples
Introduction of the use of glazed bricks in construction
Pioneering the use of the arch in architecture
Development of sculpture and bas-reliefs
Introduction of the concept of royal gardens
Advancement of metallurgy and metalworking techniques
Creation of intricate jewelry and ornaments
Establishment of an organized court system
Development of astronomy and astrology
Pioneering the use of the water clock for timekeeping
Introduction of the sundial for timekeeping
Development of medicine and pharmacology
Creation of the first hospitals and medical schools
Establishment of a system of public hygiene and sanitation
Introduction of the use of soap for personal hygiene
Development of textiles and weaving techniques
Production of fine pottery and ceramics
Pioneering the use of glass in manufacturing
Advancement of shipbuilding and seafaring techniques
Introduction of the concept of diplomacy
Establishment of a system of ambassadors and diplomatic missions
Development of agriculture and horticulture
Introduction of the concept of crop rotation
Advancement of animal husbandry and breeding techniques
Creation of a system of land surveys and mapping
Pioneering the use of the plow in agriculture
Establishment of a system of road networks
Development of the concept of urban planning
Construction of impressive public works projects
Introduction of the concept of civil engineering
Pioneering the use of siege engines and battering rams in warfare
Introduction of the use of chariots in warfare
Development of the concept of military tactics and strategy
Creation of a system of military training and discipline
Establishment of a system of military ranks and promotions
Pioneering the use of iron weapons and armor in warfare
Advancement of horse breeding and cavalry tactics
Introduction of the use of siege towers in warfare
Development of the concept of siege warfare
Construction of impressive fortifications and defensive walls
Introduction of the use of catapults in warfare
Establishment of a system of military intelligence and espionage
Development of the concept of warfare propaganda
Pioneering the use of naval warfare tactics and technology
Introduction of the use of naval warships
Establishment of a system of border control and security
Creation of a system of hostage exchange for diplomacy
Advancement of the art of horsemanship and equestrian sports
Introduction of the concept of chariot racing
Development of the sport of wrestling
Pioneering the use of musical instruments and music notation
Creation of epic poems and literature
Establishment of a system of education and scholarship
Introduction of the concept of philosophy and logic
Development of the study of mathematics and geometry
Pioneering the use of algebraic notation
Establishment of a system of justice and punishment
Creation of a system of apprenticeship and vocational training
Introduction of the concept of art as a form of cultural expression
Development of the art of calligraphy
Pioneering the use of engraving and intaglio printing techniques
Creation of the art of mosaic and tile work
Establishment of a system of patronage for the arts
Introduction of the concept of art restoration and conservation
Development of the art of perfumery and fragrance making
Pioneering the use of the distillation process for making alcohol and perfume
Creation of a system of public entertainment, such as plays and concerts
Establishment of a system of religious tolerance and coexistence
Introduction of the concept of religious syncretism
Development of the art of dance and choreography
Pioneering the use of puppetry and marionettes in entertainment
Creation of the first zoo and botanical gardens
Establishment of a system of animal welfare and conservation
Introduction of the concept of public sanitation and hygiene
Development of the concept of environmental conservation and sustainability
Pioneering the use of wind power and water power for energy
Creation of the first steam engine and steam power technology
Establishment of a system of public transportation, such as roads and bridges
Introduction of the concept of mass transit, such as horse-drawn carriages and carts
Development of the concept of public health and healthcare infrastructure
Pioneering the use of anesthesia and surgical techniques
Creation of the concept of mental healthcare and psychology
Establishment of a system of social welfare and support for the poor and disabled
Introduction of the concept of charity and philanthropy
Development of the concept of social justice and equality
Pioneering the use of democracy and participatory government
Creation of the concept of constitutional law and political rights
Establishment of the first empire in the world with a powerful bureaucracy and administrativ
@@madwellmusic8995 I'm not sure any of that actually happened in the Armenian Genocide, although I don't doubt a genocide took place (something Turkey still denies and has imprisoned Turks who affirm it)
It's so wild that if it weren't for them crucifying the wrong guy one time, the Cross would probably only be known as the most lasting symbol of Rome.
I wonder if Jesus had been stoned to death, would todays christians wear a little bag of pebbles round their necks.
@@weemac4645 hell, if its suspected that it was the blood loss that killed him, just have a tiny little whip necklace
@@CoRLex-jh5vx What will kill Jesus is a lack of belief,then we will have nothing round our necks.
@@weemac4645 Take great care that you don't wake up and find it was there all the time and have it weigh you down, take up your own cross while it is still light enough to bear
Are you referring to Jesus Christ, that ridiculous superstitious fairy tale?
It still amazes me and shocks me that the human race is so cruel to each other.
We are capable of both incredible cruelty and incredible kindness.
Well when you never figure out water sweetened with lead along with constantly drinking alcohol while inbreeding could negatively effect every fetus being made, it really can cause some hiccups for becoming human : P
That's only because you're like billions of other people who hold out false hope that we represent the virtual pinnacle of civilization striving towards an inevitable utopia.
Not me, people are stupid af
Truth.
Always so sobering to be reminded of the fact that this respected and mythologized empire was in fact an extremely brutal and effective dystopian dictatorship.
I like the description of one writer..."Romans were simply barbarians with good plumbing"
100%. Built some bloody nice roads though. They built aquaducts that are still functioning in Spain.
Just because violence was used, doesn’t mean the quality of life sucked for everyone.
If these psycho liberals take over, here we go again.
@@NickVanWyck-uq5fxyou could say the same about nazi germany or stalins ussr.
"Next ! crucifixion ?"
"Yes"
"Good, out of the door, line on the left, one cross each. Next !"
6:44 I love that they actually sneaked a shot from that movie in! 😂
He asked calmly.
@@davidyoder562 and you would be one of those cheering the practice back in the day. Probably involved in the killing.
Freedom for me.
Bloody Romans.
The human potential for inflicting suffering on others is astounding!
How true - only they're not called Emporers these days, but Politicians !
It's mostly about control.
DK viking KD
True. And once Christianity became the official religion of Rome ( and eventually all of Europe ) it was the Christian's turn to wield the instruments of torture against the remaining pagans and Christian "heretics".
The Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne in 782 cut the heads off of 4,500 Saxons at the Massacre of Verden for refusing to convert to Christianity. Pagan shrines were torn down and it was the non Christian's who now had to fear religious persecution from the State.
Of course mentioning the multiple Crusades and later the Inquisition goes without saying.
And later, John Calvin, the hero to so many fans of the Protestant Reformation was complicit in the burning alive of Spanish theologian and medical Dr Michael Servetus in Geneva, Switzerland in 1553. His crime was that he did not adhere to the orthodoxy of trinitarian beliefs nor in infant baptism. Of course the only sensible thing to do was to burn him alive.
PS, cutting off heads and burning people alive seems to have become a favorite method of ISIS in disposing of religious criminals as well.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam share so much.
Your mythical god Yahweh tortures you for infinity. Yet you think he loves you !😂
It is not the potential that is astounding. It is the willingness to enforce and/or spectate it.
Definitely among the most painful ways to die in history. The places of the body in which the nails were hammered through, the hands or wrists and the feet, caused minimal bleeding and maximum pain, as intended by the Romans. The major nerves of the hands were damaged by the nails. Imagine what it would have felt like to have those parts of your body pierced by metal nails when Roman soldiers hammered them down. It would have been intense pain for hours, especially when trying to speak or breathe. This method of execution was meant to humiliate the one convicted, and it was meant to hurt as much as possible by the person on the cross needing to use all of their strength to lift themselves up to breathe, which triggered their nerves and caused muscle cramps in their legs, torso, and arms. Absolutely horrible. I would never want to die in such an agonizing manner.
So true. Even pertaining to me; If I was ever given the death penalty, my choice would be a firing squad because death happens so fast, you really don't experience the pain. And to think in some Muslim countries they actually crucify Christians. They claim to love Jesus, but they don't. Even the Jesus they believe in is not the Jesus of the Bible. Not all Muslims are so extreme, but there's many in countries like the Sudan that fall into this category.
Yes, but I still think that being impaled or boiled alive are way worse than being crucified.
@@helenaziegler6005A properly done impaling can last for days, just like crucifixion, I'd put them at a tie.
Boiling would also be horrible, but wouldn't last as long.
My savior went through that to pay for my mistakes . I fall prostrate to his grace .praise yeshua.
@@shawntailor5485
So all the thousands of others suffered for nothing then?
What's wrong with people?
One two part question for people with superstitious religious beliefs.
(A) If someone told you (or you read in a book) that the sun used matches and candles to spread light and heat at night.
Would it be obvious to you, how self evidently illogical, irrational, unreasonable and nonsensical this idea was? (Would you understand why)?
(B) If someone told you (or you read in a book) that something capable of creating a universe and everything in it, used puny humans and books to spread accurate information.
Would it be obvious to you, how self evidently illogical, irrational, unreasonable and nonsensical this idea was? (Would you understand why)?
All gods are imaginary. No people = No imagined gods.
Learning about how common this practice was, thinking about what it would symbolise in the consiousness of the population - has just led me to a sudden realisation about what the Christian symbol of the crucifix might have meant to them, how deep a chord it must've strummed in their hearts. It's message was probably a lot closer to the modern anarchist (A) than to the modern perception of the crucifix.
Christians learn that it's all about Christ's metaphysical sacrifice for us and how it freed us from our sins. But, originally, it must have been very real and political, striking thoughts of rebellion and need for change into their minds.
[just a thought; I am by no means a scholar of this topic and should not be taken too seriously:) ]
Your instincts are correct- the decision to reclaim the cross as a triumphal symbol of hope in future resurrection (thus meaning that even Rome’s worst punishment had no real hold over them) was a conscious decision of the first Christians
Yeah I get exactly what you mean
@@tribunateSPQR Awesome. The more I learn about the history of Christianity and what it actually meant originally, the more respect I have for it as a philosophy. It was essentialy a massive anti-imperialist and progressive force for change and personal freedom; and most people (even Christians) get it sooo wrong it's just sad!
Thanks for the video:)
@@SasquachPL happy to be of some help in this regard. The origins of Christianity is a topic that we will return to since it is quite fascinating
So if early christians were some sort of an uprising or protest movement opposing the Romans - how come they ended up getting a christian Caesar?
It's shocking how cruel people were back then, not sure what's worse, crucifixion, the brazen bull or the slow slice, I consider those 3 to be the most brutal forms of execution
"Back then"
Just check what the Mexican cartel does to people that call them out, nothing has changed man
The oubliette is pretty bad too
Economy of the empire was very much based on inhumane exploitation of slaves. They were a high percentage of the population. Their total subjugation was necessary for the imperial system to work.
It is true that some were freed after long service but that was usually for close servants of the family, not for physical laborers.
Human nature is unchanged. The Judeo Christian idea that every human is made in the image of God has helped
I've found the most painful injuries I've had to get numb before very long, after which no aggravation is nearly as bad as the first shock, prior to the endorphins kicking in. So I'd expect there were probably some literal die-hard rebels who took to taunting the Romans with "Is that all you got", "A life of slavery is worse than this", or some such. And probably met a quicker death, just to shut them up. Like the fellow (in the account I read) who was pressed with stones during the Salem with hunt era who just kept saying "more weight" even as his ribs were cracking until he died and could say no more. Which incident reportedly helped bring an end to the practice, his fortitude having won over the onlookers, many of whom came to realize the witch hunts were indeed a sham.
*Woman
@@aw04tn58Which word of this do you think should be “woman”?????
@@DustyHoney the story in salem happened to a woman not a man
@@xxplasticxx4893 The account I read was of a man, or perhaps I'd mistaken their name for male. But would not be surprised if there were women who were likewise heroic.
And what exacty are your most painful injuries? In general, severe trauma tends to be less pain inducing when the shock and adrenaline first occurs. Seems like you have the opposite reaction to it compared to most humans. You can look that up if you don't believe me.
Now I'm watching this I cannot get the song 'Always, look on the bright side of life' out of my head.
Our entire channel is actually just viral marketing for Monty Python
"Crucifixion's a slow and 'orrible death!"
"Yeah, but it gets you out in the open air."
"You're weird, mate!"
"Served the interest of the ruling class."
Little has changed in 2000 years.
At least Jeff Bezos doesn't nail people to wood
What are you 10 years old? The powerful get what they want, just like as in nature.
@@hadrian318 Shouldn't humans seek to be more than mere animals? Just because things were a certain way before doesn't mean they should stay that way for ever. Look at all the progress humans have made in the last 500 generations. We should always strive to be better.
@@Jacob-ge1py So far!
Bezos works people like slaves for shitty wages.
Nicely done, enjoyed this historical narrative immensely.
Thank you so much, we love hearing positive feedback like this!
This was a brutal practice which remains a stain on humanity. Hard to understand how human beings can treat one another so brutally.
What a happy bouncy upbeat subject matter. Like most content on this channel.
excellent video, really illuminating evaluation of a brutal practice that often gets lost in mythologizing
Thanks! We aim to shed light on all aspects of Roman history, both the inspiring and the unsavory
Here in good old Manchester, our delightful Romans subjected us enforced toe-stubbing, scroll cuts & very harsh looping of Britnius Spearus’ ‘Hit me baby one more time’. Dreadful days, I must say….
Happy days mate
Glad Hadrian built that wall down the road, god knows how you guys managed across the border.
Fantastic video! You're emphasiss in the way you speak is so engaging. Not at one point was I bored. You're the best teacher I never had.
One of the historical records on crucifixion I've read indicated that nails were driven through the victim's palms not to affix the person to cross, but to increase the pain associated with the process. There's a bundle of nerves (pressure point) that runs right below the last knuckle of the thumb, and driving a nail through that point on the palm will simply increase the agony endured by the victim. It's also pretty well understood that the wrist isn't strong enough to support someone's weight if the person is suspended from a single, large spike through the wrist. One of the points that I didn't hear mentioned in this video is that once the transverse beam was affixed to the cross, the cross was stood up and then dropped into the hole that would hold it upright. This was done specifically to dislocate the victim's shoulders, increasing the pain as well as making it more difficult for them to inhale a full breath. If the person was only affixed to the cross by a nail through each wrist, that dropping motion would present a serious risk of doing significant damage to the victim's hands, potentially causing their upper bodies to come off the cross...which is something the Romans absolutely didn't want to happen.
They may have tied the upper arms to the cross. As someone was dying and going insane they would rip their hands and wrist out
It is nice that we imagine that people made so much effort about it. In reality, they bound him to a pole, a tree, or a cross and it did not matter to anyone how the person died. On the via appia 4000 rebellious slaves against Rome were crucified.
Raising them up on the whole cross to dislocate the shoulders? First time I heard of that was Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. Typically the main pole was fixed in place and the condemned carried the crossbar to the site, where the executioners would hoist him aloft and secured him to the cross (typically a T because that was easiest to assemble) and provided him a seat of shame to prolong the agony and maximize the humiliation as much as possible (Seneca, Moral Epistles 101.10-14).
Lmao your comment😂
I don't think they used nails, typically the victim wasn't worth the cost of the nail, rope was alot easier and would have kept them alive in the sun longer than bleeding out. Also pretty sure they mostly used an X and not a t as a cross, the t was the symbol of CHRESTIANS long before Jesus came along, I think the X was far more common practice because it's easier to build and to stand up, again, the victim wasn't with the effort.
For a process that was so common in practice in the Roman Empire there is almost no archeological evidence remaining. There is one foot bone with a nail through it; that is all. Apparently some doubt that nails were driven through the hands or wrists. Driving nails through wrist would have severed arteries and would have caused the victim to bleed too quickly thereby denying the perverse enjoyment of the the perpetrators.
Archaeological evidence would be hard to find. The documentary evidence, however, is abundant.
I wonder if it was through the palms, yet also rope around the wrists
@@joebuck4496 maybe but I think it could be more common the usage of rope only and putting the arms of the victim in such a position that it would be as painful as possible but also cheap.
I would guess that the perpetrators most of the times didn't do it for their enjoyment, but because it was the law. The Roman world is often cruel, but it's not barbaric. Their laws are laws, not just martial lawlessness.
A second foot bone with a nail in it was found near Cambridge England, as part of a whole skeleton. Two other skeletons were found, one in Italy and one in Egypt, each with a hole passing through the heel but no nail. The one in Italy indicated that they drove the nail through the heel with the outside of the ankle against the cross, demonstrating the Romans knew how to utterly humiliate the condemned. This is graphically depicted in the Pozzuoli Graffito, showing a nailed and penetrated male dubbed with the female name Alkimila.
Been looking for an accurate description of a crucifiction amd this guy nailed it .
Thanks for your post!
There was no Roman Empire.
Dr Anatoly Fomenko, book "History: Fiction or Science?".
good pun
@@simonruszczak5563 yeah it was me who constructed 120km aqueduct of Valens
If you pardon the expression.
I would imagine that, just like today with the issue of capital punishment, there were probably a lot of Romans who were against crucifixion. Even Roman senators looked at it as too brutal, too disgusting, too inhumane.
Being hung, drawn and quartered doesn't sound so good as well.
@@milt6208 Either way, you can soon be comforted in God's loving embrace.
"supplicium more maiorum", old school
Which is worse? Crucifixion or the brazen bull?
It’s both disturbing and fascinating just how truly horrible humans, societies, and governments can be. I’m sure there are many things we do today that will be looked at as awful in 100+ years from now.
It's important to emphasize the fact that this was meant as a fear and terror tactic.
Yes, the executions were always carried out in public places and prolonged for as long as possible in order to instill fear into the hearts of subject populations. It's the height of barbarism
@@tribunateSPQR may Emperor Hadrian return to us.
The Cross still has that effect.
@@stultusvenator3233 I went to the Catholic church so I noticed the very realistic Jesus hanging on the wall, starved, weeping and bleeding. I only ask what effect it would have on impressionable youths. Christendom needs to rethink their core focuses. I believe that Jesus did not die for our sins but because of our sins. The people who are oppressed by the Romans end up working with them to condemn a Man simply for something he said. To me, that's the true tragedy.
I wonder how many fentanyl dealers we'd have if we nailed some up.
I know this channel is dedicated towards documenting the history of Rome and not specifically Christianity, but hearing of how much my Lord and God suffered on the cross fills me with misery and thanksgiving for His suffering.
We have content planned for the future that will document the beginnings of the Christian movement in the Roman world!
Demonstrate that happened to an immortal being. Or are you admitting there was no God or a son of it
@@gowdsake7103fella what
@@gowdsake7103what are you even trying to dispute?
He was just a normal man mate. Get a reality check ffs
You used the word "excruciating" to describe the pain without comment on the very etymology of that word "ex crucia" or "From the cross"
Add to that the word "decimate" comes from a Roman disciplinary practice within their own army wherein 1 out of 10 men would be killed at random.... by the 9 who didn't draw the shortest straw.
The Romans were brutal af.
I can’t imagine the pressure and pain in the shoulders and arms. Even if you could place weight on the nail through your feet to take pressure off your shoulders. The pain would be hell on earth. They tied his biceps to the cross? Your body weight would tear your rotator cuffs as your body attempts to detach from your arms. Jesus story or not, people suffered this way….. thousands of people.
Yes...the pain inflicted during crucifixion is NON-STOP, grade 15 out of 10 pain! Certainly not a pleasant way to go.
😢😢
Thank you for this informative and fascinating slice of history!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Glad to see this so soon after the previous video! Cheers
Thanks, Glad you enjoyed it!
Really well made video thank you it was great to watch also Spartacuses origins can be tracked back to my country of Bulgaria or as it was Thrace back then also next to Macedonia I like your reference with Alexander the Great I think he was much to inspire the Romanum Imperium as we know it.
Glad you enjoyed the video! Stay tuned as we have a series on Spartacus planned
I'm familiar with crucifixion and many other execution methods, but the vivid detailing of this video made me almost faint. It's very well put together I must say. Also it wasn't my smartest decision to watch it at 3am. lol.
Glad you found it informative- I admit it was graphic but we didn’t want to gloss over one of the most unpleasant aspects of Roman law and order
@@tribunateSPQRglad you did not gloss it over. Rome is brutal, crucifixion was top brutality.
In ancient times the wrist was considered a part of the hand
yeah and in addition, in many languages the word for "hand" refers to the entire hand and arm.
I don't thing so.
Do you have a citation?
I mean, probably a place to place thing. I know when I was learning massage the Russians considered the butt to be part of the torso, even though I consider it the leg.
@@shane4976
Maybe it was, but was it in this context?
Alama translated to "young woman" not virgin, and it gets way worse.
Anglican theologian E. W. Bullinger, in The Companion Bible (which was completed and published in 1922,[16] nine years after his 1913 death), was emphatic in his belief that stauros never meant two pieces of timber placed across one another at any angle, "but always of one piece alone ... There is nothing [of the word stauros] in the Greek of the N.T. even to imply two pieces of timber." Bullinger wrote that in the catacombs of Rome Christ was never represented there as "hanging on a cross" and that the cross was a pagan symbol of life (the ankh) in Egyptian churches that was borrowed by the Christians.
@@stultusvenator3233 Firstly, we have at least 2 pieces of graffiti surviving from the first few centuries AD that depict a crucifixion, including the Alexamenos graffito from around the year 200 which is likely meant to be a mockery of Jesus specifically, and the graffito of Alkimilla from Puteoli, and both of them depict the crucified on a T shaped cross. So I think it's a reach to say Christians just looked at the ankh and said "Yeah, we'll make this random pagan symbol our main thing."
The reason Christians in the early days did not usually depict Christ crucified at all (I've certainly never seen early art of him on anything other than a T-shaped cross) was because of the social stigma of crucifixion as a horrific and shameful death reserved for the lowest of the low.
That aside, you asked for a source on if ancient peoples considered the wrist as part of the hand. I gave you a secular source defining the definition of "cheir" in Koine Greek in which it is defined as including the whole of the arm.
I remember as a kid growing up in church and learning about salvation. My granny used to tell us kids when she got really upset with us. She was going to crucify us. I didn't know what that meant at first. But after some years i looked it up and found out what she was talking about.
Lol that's brutal
Your granny was really gonna hang you all out to dry.
I highly doubt that she would really actually crucify anyone. It was just one of her figures of speech. Especially when she got really mad. The Romans used crucifixion and various other methods of execution to control the population. Get rid of enemies of the state, and to punish criminals.
Mine was Nazarene and would whip us with a crabapple branch.
That is a very dark threat to say to a child.
I enjoyed the perspective. As a Bible scholar, this was informative.
A familiar subject that is often just taken for granted, but this video really nailed it to a T.
Get out!
@@TheDJ42 Imagine hanging around all day with nothing to do except biting your nails?
😄😐😩😫 That was a terrible joke!
Pardon the pun.
An agonising joke.
Much insight to be had here.
However this documentary fails to explore the dimension of /shame/ in the ancient world, and the integral part that this was in the process of crucifixion. Yes, it was horrifying to the general populace; but more than that, it was /shameful/, and fully designed to obliterate any honour the person might have had.
There is also the added dimension of the fact that having one's body hung on a scaffold was a near-universal sign of accursedness.
The final sentence of this video, though, is excellent and well worth pondering: "In the end, the memory of one victim of crucifixion changed the moral arc of an entire empire." Well said.
Always look on the bright side of life.
🎶🎵🎵🎶
Wow, that is quite disturbing! To think that they were slaves to begin with and ended life in such a barbaric way... Something I like to remember is that people of the past, especially the ancient past were not wimps. Just surviving birth and childhood was a miracle. When there are descriptions of these people's pain and suffering I believe it really was suffering. People of today in most 1st world countries including myself know not what true suffering is for the most part. We have been coddled since birth.... Certainly not everyone, but definitely myself... There has always been a pill for every ill and I have lived a relatively cushy life.... I don't think I would have lasted very long back in the day... Which makes history such as this video all the more interesting!
Folk were tougher in them days...
But the blacks have suffered the most and continue to suffer under systemic oppression! /s
This must have been before we invented loving Gods that care about our wellbeing.
On a similar note, you can't leave a child home alone unless they're 13 or older, I believe... I was letting myself in the house after school (and staying alone for hours) when I was 7 or 8. Our society is pathetic. I'm not tough as I'd like to be, either. Cheers
Well, the bible condoned slavery, so it must be moral.
One thing I never understood, the victim was made to carry their cross to the place of execution. Why did they not simply say "no!" They were already condemmed to the most painful death imaginable, what could the Romans threaten them with?
More pain, obviously, followed by the same excruciating death. Castrate them. Pull their fingernails out. Gouge an eye out. Every legion contained a group of trained torturers ready to deal with spies and traitors captured in the field, and to act as executioners. They were utterly methodical about it, so don't think they didn't have every contingency covered.
Probably they would be tortured for days or weeks if they refused. Better a relatively short death by crucifixion.
If the victim says no to carry his own cross, more flogging ensues, till the victim breaks down and agrees to carry.
I imagine many refused. They'd be crucified anyway, only without the mercy of a good leg breaking.
"Right. Off you go, then!"
That was a gorgeous presentation. Thanks.
_Crucifixion?_
Err, no freedom actually
_What?_
Yeah they said I hadn't done anything wrong and I could go and live on an island somewhere
_Oh, I say, that's very nice. Well off you go then_
Haha no, I'm just pulling your leg. It's crucifixion really
_Oh yes, very good. Well.._
Yes I know, out the door, line on the left, one cross each
Ah, a man of taste
See, not so bad once you're up!
If only the Judean People’s Front has been leading the charge.
@@Justanotherconsumer fuck off! We're The People's Front of Judea!
BC and AD. Thank you.
Well-referenced and interesting. Thanks for the video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for including the information about the nails going through wrists. I’ve been telling people this information for 20 years and yet, all the depictions of Jesus with holes in his hands after resurrection make people think I’m lying. Why would I lie about that?
Happy to be of some help!
Except the purpose of driving nails through the hands was not to affix the person to the cross. Driving nails through the wrists, between the radius and ulna, won't provide enough support for the person to remain affixed to the cross. The nails will tear through the connective tissues in the wrist, either tearing all the way through the hand, or simply increasing the size of the wound enough to cause the person to fall off the cross. This video skipped the bit where the cross was dropped into a hole 4 - 6' deep with the victim already affixed to it, causing the person's shoulders to dislocate. That sudden stop would do tremendous damage to the soft tissue around the nails if there was no other affixion used.
I get the J.W's all the time with that Gem ! That and the Roman Centurion's uniform in my foyer . I do reenactments . Need a Centurion ?
@@lonnietoth5765 I was born & raised as a JW and this one always bugged me. Especially when you actually do some digging in to real history and realize that you are being fed a load of crap.
@@lonnietoth5765 my cousin was JW when we were kids and her picture book showed Jesus on a stake, not even a cross. A straight stake with his hands over his head, nailed together. Even as a kid, I knew that wouldn’t work. I remember asking my dad why the JW picture book had so many weird pictures that were different from the other picture books. His response is one I probably can’t post here haha
This is hard to stomach but I appreciate the history.
I understand- it wasn’t fun to research and write but we wanted the story to be told as authentically as possible out of respect for the many victims of the barbarous practice
Great video and I loved the last line. That’s a powerful statement.
Thank you, very glad that you've enjoyed our content - we try to add a little editorial perspective so that the videos aren't just a recitation of facts.
Very good production. Thank You.
You really nailed it.
OOOOHHH!😛
This account shows just how audaciously subversive or brazen Christians were to turn the cross into a symbol of God or divine power hitherto reserved to the emperor, and then to use it as a conversion tool that eventually conquered Rome.
YES! I had the same thought after watching this! I knew early Christians were revolutionary on a religious level, but I'd never really considered just how audacious they were in the face of the Romans. This channel has another video that goes into it further.
It's all been foretold in the Scriptures. Checkout the "Bronze Serpent" in the Old Testament!
@@IntheBlood67 lol, it’s so easy to make these predictions fit a scenario.
Yeah and they were also really brave
@@andyw3720
At least, have you read the Old Testament and the comments from theologians to actually be aware of those predictions ?
Wow, great video and glimpse at crucifixion and the context of its time. Thank you.
Thank you, Glad you enjoyed it!
Very articulate, well researched and informative imho. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep tonight !!
Glad you enjoyed it, fortunately crucifixions have declined significantly since the first century
fantastic video!
Thank you!
According to Josephus who was present at the siege of Jerusalem, he saw three friends crucified. He asked Titus, the son of Vespasian, to free them. They were taken down, and one of them survived.
Often there was a seat supplied which further excruciated the crucified and humiliated in total shame. Being a spike or tapered peg attached to a strut, it was called a "piercing cross" Seneca described it this way, quoting Maceneas: "'You may nail me up and set for my seat the piercing cross.' Do you think it a trifle to press one's own wound and hang impaled on a gibbet?" (Moral Epistles 101.10-14) This is borne out in 3 visual depictions of crucifixion or a cross:
Pozzuoli Graffito
Vivat Crux Graffito
Periere Gem (Bloodstone Gem at the British Museum)
Additional sources:
Virgil, Catalepton 2a.18
Achilles Tatius 2.37.3
Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 40.1-3 and 91.1-2
Irenaeus, Against Heresies 4.24.4
Tertullian, Ad Nationes 1.12.3-4, An Answer to the Jews 10.7-8, & Against Marcion 3.18.3-4
Thanks for the additional context and for sharing these excellent resources!
@@tribunateSPQR You're quite welcome! Academia is only beginning to acknowledge this (David Tombs, The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ: Torture, Sexual Abuse, and the Scandal of the Cross). Crazy how people can be so blind for so long!
Called a 'sedile' or 'cornu', with different purposes . . .
@@EllieMaes-Grandad Yes - two different names for the same item. Tertullian referred to the _sedile_ with the phrase, _illo sedilis excessu_ meaning "with that projecting/excessive seat". The word _excessu_ is the ablative of _excessus_ which means not only "projecting" but also "excessive for its purpose". (Lewis & Short, Elem. Lewis dictionaries) Hence the other term _cornu._
So, a smaller cross was inverted and included. Of course there must have been anal and genital torture.
We don't talk about that.
Do we know who would have done the actual process? I heard that the Romans had a similar view to Europeans when it came to torturers & executioners i.e. that they were "unclean" and generally shunned by "regular" folks. But it seems like if there was this many people being crucified they would have been a bit short on staff. I heard it in reference to the /a "carnifex" (admittedly in a historical fiction book!)
Soldiers, they carried out the "Pax Romana".
As @Jack Moorehead said, it would've been soldiers, though outside of Rome itself, it often would have been auxiliary troops--i.e. regionally enlisted or semi-professional soldiers.
@@musashidanmcgrath I meant Europe in later history, which is a period of time I know about with regard to the social stigma attached to performing executions or torture. I'm sure the Romans saw themselves as the Roman Empire and would draw a distinction between themselves and other parts of Europe - if indeed such a concept existed at the time.
I know that about the Carnifex a little and references to that position mention that it had a similar amount of stigma attached to it. As such I was curious about *who* was doing the physical acts of scourging and crucifixion and if they had a similar stigma attached to them as a result of their participation.
It seems like that isn't the case, so I'm curious to know why soldiers would "get a pass" on that.
Roman soldiers, in general, were regarded by the good citizens of Rome as crude, rude and repulsive, and unfit to mingle with polite society.
@@michaelsmodelrailroading7665 ah, that makes sense. thank you!
Thanks for a very accurate scholarly and physiological depiction of crucifixion. Though it's described in detail in the biblical account of Jesus' execution, most people do not begin to appreciate the entire process the condemned suffered. That Jesus died so quickly when those beside him did not is remarkable.
Thanks for the kind words!
Demonstrate he even existed
Hi Julie. Not so remarkable really, there are two possibilities. The sponge soaked in vinegar given to Jesus by his disciples possibly contained hemlock to hasten his death and minimize his suffering. Socrates' death was by hemlock, and it starts on the lower limbs first, so Jesus would lose all pain from his lower injuries for a while. Suicide was acceptable in extreme cases, the bible's Samson (Judges 16: 26-28) asks God for the strength to kill himself in an act of revenge against the Philistines. God is not against suicide missions according to the bible. Also, king Saul deliberately falls on his sword to end his life. (1Sam, 31:4). Many people quietly abhorred the cruelties of the age and did what they could to minimize suffering.
The second possibility is repugnant but must be honestly considered. Sponges-on-sticks were common, they were used in public toilets to wipe dirty backsides. They were kept in jars of vinegar. One gospel account has the stick being offered by the Roman soldiers, not his disciples, and this is coherent with the soldiers taunting him with a foul drink to quench his thirst, which rough brutal soldiers on execution duty would enjoy as much as casting lots for his clothing while he was still alive.
These two options are equally likely, and as the two differing accounts were chosen by Jerome for the bible, I must assume he knew he was presenting the event in a contradictory way. It's very confusing until you consider that deliberately creating confusion might be the motive. Cheers, P.R.
Our Lord was so horribly scourged, a normal person would have died from that alone. I think that is why He died before the other 2 - He was already wounded to the point of death when He was crucified.
Hi. Jesus did not
Josephus also says the Romans would nail people into wood in various positions for entertainment value. Supposedly they did this in Jerusalem after the Jewish revolt for days, until they ran out of wood. It's a vivid passage, one can imagine they may not have afforded all the victims their own individual cross, either.
Seneca describes how the soldiers would amuse themselves by creating the most grotesque displays possible:
“Some hang their victims upside down. Some impale them through the private parts. Others stretch out their arms onto forked poles.”
"Vlad the Impale r" was very good at warding off troublesome neighbors, by having a head on a stick at the boundary of his realm. The Romans did the same.
No, he impaled the victims by having a pole shoved up their anus and exiting through the shoulder. If done properly, no major organs were damaged and the victim lived for days afterwards. Thousands of them. He called it his " Living forest ". He still ended up friendless and was caught and executed.
What blows my mind is that Dracula used hand guns in battle.
Both Vlad and the Romans impaled the body too, so the victim would suffer in sheer agony for a long time. In fact, Vlad was notorious for this! But the Romans preferred crucifixion due to its utterly shaming effect (Seneca Minor, Dialogues 6.20.3 & Moral Epistles 101.10-14).
This is very effective at keeping kids outta my yard.
I've got a hyperfixation on a 6th century Eastern Roman general who had a reputation for relative benevolence. I've gotten quite endeared to the man.
I read that he had several people put to death but didn't get any specifics. Then I read a translation of the primary source and found out he used impalement.
Cognitive dissonance is fun.
Human cruelty is a constant across the generations. Disgusting human nature to allow such evil.
human nature doesn't permit it; it _enjoys_ it.
Can you do a video on Spartacus if there’s enough to talk about?
Yes, I've wanted to do Spartacus for a while but have avoided it as we want to do it right since the topic is so fascinating. There will likely be an entire series on Spartacus and his uprising
@@tribunateSPQR Great😄
Great video. Not surprised that the crucifixion, predated the religion that uses the cross as its symbol.
Well yeah naturally it happened before Christianity was even a religion. Jesus was Jewish, so naturally Christianity itself would have come after the initial concept of crucifixion.
Very interesting. One certainly didn't mess with the Romans.
A consideration for things which seem to cause unimaginable suffering is dissociation. It's a defence mechanism in the brain allowing a person to detach from suffering. Pain can seem distant for the person suffering. It can help a person endure the torment.
Dissociation is a illusion, it only causes more pain in the end.
@@Mateus.007 if you survive. It's a good defence mechanism if death seems inevitable (which is why it evolved in wildlife - to preserve the mind in case escape becomes possible)
@@Mateus.007 dude they’re being fucking crucified not being bullied or something like that, I’m sure dissociating from that kind of pain is a natural thing for the mind to do when going through something so painful.
@@gorblin70 I suffered greatly from dissociation. I don't think it reduces the physical pain. Only if you achieve total colapse, maybe, but that's more rare for a human.
@@Mateus.007 I’m sorry to hear that, what kind of physical pain were you going through?
Very good explanation, sir thank you
Glad you enjoyed the video!
Very informative. Thanks for sharing this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is great!!!! Subscribed
Thanks so much!
Much has been learnt in recent years, with studies and experiments carried out by scholars, with volunteers. It is true that the crucified ultimately died of suffocation. For every breath they needed the joint effort of the whole body. Picture this: the poor guy is basically hanging from his hands, which are nailed (or sometimes tied, big difference) to a horizontal beam (patibulum) and his feet, also nailed, but to a vertical pole, called stipe. Now, the stipe was, more often than not, a tree. A tree trunk.
These crosses images (like the movie Espartaco, where the guy was like 10 feet high and the girl down there talking to him... listen here, talking! Poor Kirk Douglas had enough trouble only trying to breathe!) are most inaccurate. Especially in Siria, Gallilee and those parts, where the small sized trees were abundant. The romans were not stupid, in the same measure that they were brutal. Why build an enormous cross, when you can simply use a tree which is already there? Cut off the branches, sharpen the top so it can fit a hole made in the middle of the stipe, and off you go. They didn't even need a ladder. And sometimes, the feet were not pierced together, one on top of the other, but one feet on one side, the other feet on the other side. It's still not clear why they did this (following the roman logic, it implied using more nails), but there are two reasons which the scholars are debating: on the one hand, if fulfilled one of the ends of the crucifixion -the humiliation-; (think about it: you've been detained God knows when, then thrown to some dungeon; maybe they fed you, maybe not. The thing is, once you are pierced to the tree, the pain is just too much; you just can't control yourself; your sphincters give way and the feces slide down your legs... And your loved ones, friends, maybe neighbours are all there -keeping some distance, I guess-) but it is also possible that they did that when the legs of the convict were simply too long.
And, there's still another theory that came up in recent times, which shows a much better use of the resources available: just one trunk (patibulum). Arms stretched over your head, pierced with one single nail; the legs, as we said. It serves the purpose equally well.
But, back to the breathing issue; the death itself was usually caused by asphyxia; but what caused the asphyxia was the physical exhaustion. In order to breathe, the person needed to push his torso up, so the lungs can stretch and he can get a mouthful of air. How does he achieve that? Well, he must forget the pain, and let the nail in his feet bear the weight of his body. At the same time, in a similar manner, pull up using the nails in his hands as support. You hold on like this as much as you can and suck in all the air you can, before letting yourself fall back to the previous position. One can only imagine the excruciating pain. All the muscles on your back try to help, but the romans didn't care if a little branch was left here and there... So this only adds to the pain. Horrible.
Add to that a vertical peg, shaped like a rhinoceros horn, that the crucified individual had to sit on when he slumped, to relieve the pain in his hands. Only it pierced his anus and he slid down until a point where it was stout enough to keep him in place. This was totally shameful and what made it the worst was, he knew he would have to press up again in order to breathe! Look up Pozzuoli Graffito, this is depicted in graphic detail.
Roman crucifixion was a form of punishment reserved for the worst criminals, such as rebels and slaves. It was a public spectacle and was meant to be a deterrent to others who might consider taking actions against Rome. Crucifixion was a slow, torturous death that was meant to convey a message that the Roman state was all-powerful and that any challenge to its authority would lead to severe consequences. By displaying the crucified bodies in a public space, the Romans hoped to send a strong message to the masses that they were in control, and any act of rebellion would only lead to a similar fate. This practice was also intended to instill fear and discourage people from committing crimes, leading to a more stable and authoritarian society.
Great video! It’s nice to see someone take a cynical approach to Roman history instead of over glorifying everything.
It’s important to mention that no matter the crime no Roman citizen would suffer this fate
Very well told and quite interesting.
Some factoids:
There was a heel bone of a crucified individual found with a nail still embedded in it. Traces of wood were found between the nail head and the bone, indicating a wooden washer to prevent pulling your limb through the nail head. Thus, it's believed that two shorter nails were driven through the heels into the sides of the stake, rather than one through the feet. Two more possible candidates have been found, pretty much confirming it.
Additionally, it's been found that- once you're affixed to the cross- you actually fall outwards, with your back far away from the cross. During the filming of The Gospel of John, the actors literally had to be affixed by the waist to stay against the cross. The wood-scraping idea is probably not a thing that actually happened.
I agree with the first part at least. I saw the same thing about the feet on either side of the beam with the nail though the heel in some cases.
I didn’t know about the hanging thing, but interesting.
Why does the Trinity not appear in the Bible?peace..;'
Rome used brutal force to forge and hold her ancient empire together. However, our modern world wars killed on a scale that would shock and awe even the bloodiest-minded Roman!
Yes, it's a shame how little we have progressed as a species. Our weapons have gotten better but that's about the only difference
Russia has done the same and doing it still today.
Don't forget Bush 2 and the Forever Wars.
Not real. There is a few roman battles that still to this day has the higest body count for a one day battle. Rome v hannibel had 1 fight that still hold the record of nearly 200 thousands in just one day . Think on that . Thats 200 thousands men sticking bits of metal into eachother at close contac.
Not really.
Watching this on a Sunday is an interesting feeling.
Incredible - well done
Thank you, glad you enjoyed our little documentary!
@@tribunateSPQR especially appreciate the amount of research that was invested into the topic. Really distinguishes this video in terms of quality.
Pretty sure one of those wide shots of mass crucifixion is from Monty Python....
Interesting how you have 9k subs and yet 14k Likes on this vid. I don't think I've seen that before. Brilliantly detailed account and l enjoyed your responses to some of the Comments too.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video!
my father took me to church and said if i dont do well in math they'll nail me to the plus sign..imma online math tutor now doing pretty well.
Jesus Christ. 😣
Now that's just funny
😂😂
A testament of how great humans are.
Fabulous to hear Paul talk... Thank you 😎
We need to do this to our political class
It makes sense that something so cruel would come from Assyria
They really pioneered a lot of the worst ways to inflict capital punishment.
@@tribunateSPQR I know right. All the memes about Assyria I hear is how cruel they were. And when you're cruel by 1st millennium BC standards you are cruel with a capital C
Like the Romans and later others (the Nazis and Japanese, for instance), the Assyrians used terror, shock and awe to subdue conquered populations
Should check the Inquisitions.
Whaaatt! Try looking at Europe during the Middle Ages.
Great work.
Merci beaucoup
Thank you!
"Crucixion? Good. Out of the door. Line on the left. One cross each. NEXT!".
Crucifixion?
No
Off with you then!
Just kidding, yes.
Not to mention that if the knees are placed at an angle high up into your chest it asphyxiates you and slowly causes your heart rate to rise resulting in tachycardia and potentially a heart attack from not being able to breathe
Positional asphyxia. 😔
when Rome tried to invade Germania in something like 8 a.d. they received one of the most crushing defeats in their history. Three legions were annihilated in a place nicknamed "the black forest." after the battle, many Roman survivors were crucified to pine trees as sacrifices to Odin. I always thought the message in this was, "Let's see how YOU like it?'" Not much, apparently. a thousand years later the black forest gave rise to such stories as Little Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wold,and Hansel and Gretel.
Good research. Crosses were not that high as depicted in pictures, they were at eye level so people could see up close the true horror of crucifixion. These people were barbaric.
That's even worse
And we use the word barbaric to describe it when that's a roman word for foreigners .. History is written by the victors
Apparently, the popular image of being nailed to a cross is false as the weight of the victim's body would soon pull the hands away from the nails causing the body to fall. The arms would have been roped to the horizontal beams although it's possible that the feet may have been nailed, but more likely roped as well.
Their you go again,bringing facts and logic into a hypothetical debate. Bloody typical.
@@weemac4645 😆
I forget who, but there were a few Roman writers who mentioned nailing the condemned to a cross. It’s possible that they were alternated depending on what was available.
Roping was probably used often, as nails were relatively expensive. @@samueljennings4809
@simongee8928 Forensic study on corpses showed that if the nails were driven through the palm, they would tear through the hand from the weight.
However, there is a space in the wrist where a nail could be driven, and the bones and tendons would be able to hold a body in place.
It was also where the medial nerve passes through. The nail would either sever or damage the nerve, causing incredible pain.
Wow...good vid! I've seen Ceasers on Obilisks , Greek hero's pyramids , Colossi of Memnon , on top of the twin pyramids at Lake Moeris...representing the King n Queen..on n on. Luv'n these vids showing some real history , His story..etc.
Awesome video and very well done. Will you do a video about what it was like to be condemned to the circus? (Yes I realize how absurd that sentence sounds... Pun intended...)
Thank you!
This is the first entry in a series we’re working on covering capital punishment in Rome, we definitely have plans to get to the Arena soon and cover all the sordid events that took place there.
I love that you used a clip from Monty Python The Life of Brian. Everyone look at the bright side of life
Maybe it was recommended by his friend biggus Dickus and his wife incontintia buttocks.
just subscribed... great program
Thank you!!
"Crucifixion?"
"Yes."
"Good, line on the left, one cross each, crucifixion?"
"Ah, no freedom. They said I hadn't done anything so I could go free and live on an island somewhere"
"Oh, that's jolly good, well off you go then"
"Nah, I'm only pulling your leg, it's crucifixion really!"
Always look on the bright side of being brutally tortured to death ;)
Nail em up I say nail some sense into em!
This feels like a transcribed Monty Python skit.
Am I right?! :D
'Best thing the Romans ever did for us' 🙂
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:
It gave a whole new meaning to the concept of hanging around. I'll see myself out now.