Old news but still relevant matters.

Link: http://www.cuadp.org/news/KRTWire02-23-2004.htm

Posted on Mon, Feb. 23, 2004

Jesus' crucifixion was one of many carried out for state reasons

BY HELEN T. GRAY

Knight Ridder Newspapers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - (KRT) - Crucifixion: The act of putting to death by nailing or binding the hands and feet to a cross.

This brutal method of execution that has become synonymous with torture is the centerpiece of ``The Passion of the Christ," Mel Gibson's movie about the last 12 hours of Jesus' life.

One Jewish anthropologist called crucifixion "one of the cruelest and most humiliating forms of punishment in the ancient world."

While Jesus of Nazareth is the most famous person to be crucified, he is far from the only one. Historians say that from about the sixth century B.C.E., crucifixion was a method of execution among the Medes, Persians and Seleucids of the eastern Mediterranean; Carthaginians, who settled in northern Africa; and Romans.

``Crucifixion was an extreme punishment used by peoples around the Mediterranean basin for about 1,000 years," said David Cook, assistant professor of religious studies at Rice University. ``It was a public and ... degrading punishment designed to deter."

He said it was first mentioned in the Code of Hammurabi about 1700 B.C.E. but brought into popular use about 500 B.C.E. by the Persians and then the Carthaginians. In the fourth century B.C.E., Alexander the Great is believed to have spread the use of crucifixion to Egypt. The Romans are believed to have picked it up from the Carthaginians.

``There is very little description of crucifixion in ancient literature, partly because it was such a horrible, distasteful process," said James Mahon, a specialist in the sociology of religion at William Paterson University in New Jersey. ``In the ancient world, people didn't talk about crucifixion because it was such a debasing act and limited to the lowest classes.

``The Greek historian Herodotus reports crucifixion as being used by the Medes and the Persians. He seems to suggest that the Persians were the first ones to use it on a large scale. There was an interaction between the Greeks and the Persians, and it appears that with Alexander the Great's spread in the fourth century that crucifixion became a common Hellenistic practice."

Alexander the Great is said to have had 2,000 survivors from the siege of Tyre crucified on the shores of the Mediterranean, wrote Joe Zias, formerly of the Israel Antiquities Authority. In addition, he said, from 37 to 41 C.E. Jews were tortured and crucified in an amphitheater to entertain the inhabitants of Alexandria.

As a method of execution, he said, crucifixion was rare among Jews, and, except for a few instances, those to be killed were stoned to death first and then hung on a tree. One notable exception was when 800 Pharisees were crucified in Jerusalem in 267 B.C.E.

In the Roman Empire, historians say, crucifixion was applied to the lower classes, mainly slaves and foreigners. It also was used in response to any actions that were seen as threatening to the empire, such as political agitation, piracy and slave revolts. These would be considered capital offenses.

In the case of Jesus, Mahon said, the sign above him on the cross that he was ``King of the Jews" was a claim the Romans would consider treason and punishable by crucifixion.

``The way the legal system was organized in Syria in the early first century was that the Jews themselves administered their civil affairs, but with issues that may involve a death penalty, those matters were relegated to the Roman governor of Syria," he said. ``During this time, Pontius Pilate was the procurator, or administrative representative of the empire, in Judea."

The Romans crucified large numbers of Jews, who were seen as a troublesome and rebellious group, so one such as Jesus probably was no different, Cook said.

The instruments of crucifixion were varied, not always resembling the familiar cross in many depictions of Jesus' crucifixion.

``It could be a stake in the ground, and the arms (of victims) were extended above them," Mahon said. ``Another variation is that sometimes people could be crucified upside down. Another type of cross is one that looks like an `X,' with the (person's) arms and legs spread out.

``Another variation was the crossbeam would be set on top of the upright beam, and the arms would be raised and attached to this crossbeam. And the one we are most familiar with is the elongated plus sign, the typical representation of the one used for Jesus."

The usual method of crucifixion was to either nail or tie a person's arms lengthwise to a crossbeam, which was hoisted upon a stake driven into the ground to a height of about nine to 12 feet, Cook said. Other variations included lowering the level of the crossbeam, which would leave the person exposed to attacks by wild animals or sometimes providing a small support at the buttocks, which would cause the person to die more slowly.

Scourging, or whipping, was not necessarily a part of crucifixion, but it seems that it often was. The severity of the scourging played a part in determining how long it would take someone to die after being crucified, Mahon said. After the scourging, the victim would carry the crossbeam, not the entire cross, to the place of crucifixion.

The intent was obvious, said Paul B. Harvey Jr. of the Classics, Ancient Mediterranean Studies, History and Religious Studies Program at Pennsylvania State University. It was to be a ``spectacular, theatrical, public capital punishment."

``It was meant not only to be a deterrent," Harvey said, ``but to demonstrate the power of the state and for public entertainment."

Deterrence was a factor when the Romans crucified 6,000 slaves who had participated in the slave revolt of 73 B.C.E. led by Spartacus, Mahon said. The stakes were strung for miles along a Roman highway for all to see.

As a further deterrent in the ancient world, many victims were crucified where the criminal act took place, Zias said. For instance, thieves would be crucified along the cities' busiest thoroughfares. Also, as a deterrent, he said, Roman authorities devised various means whereby the victim could remain on the cross for days in public before eventually expiring.

``The Gospel narrative of the flogging, hauling the crossbeam and crucifixion is plausible and relatively accurate," Harvey said. `` ... Beyond any theological issue, the Gospels give a good description. By the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion for troublemakers was well established in Judea. ... So people knew what to expect."

In some senses, the crucifixion of Jesus helped bring an end to that execution method among Romans. Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor of Rome, discontinued its use in the Roman Empire in the fourth century in reverence for Jesus Christ.

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© 2004, The Kansas City Star.

Visit The Star Web edition on the World Wide Web at http://www.kcstar.com/

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.


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Anybody that wears a cross perhaps or may should reconsider. The cross which signify crucifixition itself has a 'not so illuminating history'. The cross was there before Jesus made his departure from the earth and like today churches, organizations, gravesites, and individuals display it the same way as the Romans going back to the Persians.

But of course the meaning is quite different but it took a high ranking Roman official to banish the practice of cruxifition when Christianity became a state religion.

My next question is did common so called Christians and their churches then adorn themselves with crosses or symbols at the time Christianity became a state religion of the Roman Empire?

daefyfear wrote

My next question is did common so called Christians and their churches then adorn themselves with crosses or symbols at the time Christianity became a state religion of the Roman Empire?


My understanding is that the cross was a much more ancient and astrologically ( the crossing of the two imaginary axis in the sky when the sun passes through the vernal equinox) based symbol.. i.e the Kemtian Ankh..and since Christianity borrowed so much from the religions and philosophies in close proximity.. no doubt the symbolism was there from time. Whether the Romans adopted killing people on crosses or whether it was the most effiecient way to string someone up and make them suffer is another story.

But the cross and its similar symbols were much older than the Romans and the practice of crucifixation.

Bredder Tukoma

My understanding is that the cross was a much more ancient and astrologically ( the crossing of the two imaginary axis in the sky when the sun passes through the vernal equinox) based symbol.. i.e the Kemtian Ankh..and since Christianity borrowed so much from the religions and philosophies in close proximity.. no doubt the symbolism was there from time. Whether the Romans adopted killing people on crosses or whether it was the most effiecient way to string someone up and make them suffer is another story.

But the cross and its similar symbols were much older than the Romans and the practice of crucifixation.

Certainly its much older than the Romans. It also takes on many different forms. But let me take a page from Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_cross

During the first three centuries of Christianity, the cross was rare in Christian iconography as it depicts a purposely painful and gruesome method of public execution by impalement and/or exposure

... and ...

Descriptions of the cross are to be found in Christian writings from the early 2nd century onwards. The Cross first became prominent in Christian imagery during the 3rd century in Egypt. An early third century reference (there are few others) is in Clement of Alexandria's unfinished Stromateis or 'Miscellanies' (book VI): he speaks of the Cross as tou Kuriakou semeiou tupon, i.e. "the symbol of the Lord."

This is where I would see that it took time for early Christians to adopt the cross as a symbol of Christ crucified. So somebody had to ochestrate its use as a symbol and I am building evidence that since Christianity became a state religion of the Roman empire who was in existance before Jesus birth, during his lifetime, and after his death made this a symbol of the Roman state church.

But the only place where the cross took no offence was in Egypt which too was under Roman rule.

Cross becomes primary symbol of the faith in Egypt in 3rd Century Although the potential existed, throughout Roman world, Egypt seems to be the first christian community in the empire to overlook the "shameful" association with a very humiliating form of roman execution. That culture had highly venerated a kind of cross for nearly 3000 years. The ankh cross had been an icon in their religious concepts, evolving in meaning over time. With the advent of the faith in Egypt, it was a natural choice as the christian icon
Egypt at the time was not looked at for guidance to Christian practices. That was upon the Greeks and the Romans and parts of Asia or Asia Minor (Turkey, etc).

I think Wikipedia may made a mistake in this regard how the faith in Egypt with the cross and ankh, influence the practices of the Greeks and Roman intepretation of the cross. I am not denying its influence but would add much skepticism.

http://www.nisbett.com/symbols/cross.htm

After Christ was crucified, Christians didn't use the sign of the cross as their religious symbol for several hundred years. It was connected with executioners. Christians used the cross, finally, about 200 A.D. in the catacombs. In 312 A.D., Constantine had a dream in which a cross, denoted as a Christian symbol, meant he would prevail in war. Constantine won a battle, and the cross was then carried on banners by the Roman Army. Constantine introduced religious freedom in the Roman Empire during the next year. After the cross was outlawed as a means of execution, it became fully embraced by the Christians as their symbol of Christ. It stood for his death and suffering. And, most important, it symbolised the Resurrection, becoming a symbol of faith to Christians everywhere -- The Modern Witch's Book of Symbols, p. 32.

...

Contrary to current popular belief, the Latin or "Passion" cross, was not a Christian emblem from the beginning. It was not assimilated into the Christian religion, until the seventh century A.D., and was not fully authorised until the ninth century (1). Primitive churches preferred to represent Christ by the figure of a lamb, or else a "Good Shepherd" carrying a lamb, in the conventional manner, of Hermes and Osiris (2). In several places the New Testament says that Jesus was hanged on a tree, not a cross (Acts 5:30; 1 Peter 2:24), and some sects believe to be literal, not metaphorical. This envisioned Jesus rather closer, to such tree-slain saviour figures as Krishna, Marsyas, Odin, and Dodonian Zeus.

At the time, after news of the gospel spread under the oppresive Romans, many early Christians used different symbols to represent their faith to fellow 'brothers'. Some use the symbol of a fish. As this above passage states, some use the figure of a lamb.

Until Christianity was organized and many centuries passing to heal old wounds of cruel Roman executions just as how the Roman empire was hierachal that the cross took on a defined and authoritarian symbol across many lands especially the old empirical grounds of the Romans. Many early proclaimed Christians 'fathers', were oppose to the use of the cross.

But in Europe I am discovering the cross was in existance all along. Since Romans and Greeks are considered 'Europeans' by 'Europeans', the most prevalent use of the cross was found in the farmer's field as a scarecrow.

Still to this day.

I dont know the full meaning but I do know that a scarecrow is not of justifying the living. And it too display a human figure on a cross.

But in today's world I really doubt many Christians would question the nature of the cross but as a symbol of faith in Jesus Christ which is fine. But if Jesus has a history and made as a reference time table for marking centuries past present and future then so do the cross also.

It says in the Bible from Paul the Apostle says to the Hebrews
13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Can that be said of the cross?

HLF wrote: As a method of execution, he said, crucifixion was rare among Jews, and, except for a few instances, those to be killed were stoned to death first and then hung on a tree. One notable exception was when 800 Pharisees were crucified in Jerusalem in 267 B.C.E.

If Jesus was hanged from a tree denotes a curse as stated in Dueteronomy

which many law of Moses abiding Pharisees would considered cursed.

Pharisees and Saduccess still wield power even after the death of Jesus.

To stay away from the rewards of the gospel Jesus preached.

Maybe that is why Paul the Apostle had to be all men and used cross and tree

depending on the audience he was trying to preach too.

But my point isnt that really.

My point is the symbol of cruxification have even permeated the rich religious

traditions of Jews, God's anointed ones.

Cruxification did not start with Jews but they seeming ended up using it by

association.

But the Egyptians did not seem to take on the practice and even personalize the

cross in turmoil and fear by the greater Mediteranean World including Israel.

Who was cursed then in this instance? Curses are cast like a net. Capturing

what ever stirs within.

defyfear wrote: Why Romans chose a cross to execute people on is a mystery though. Have you been able to shed any light on why that particular form of execution was used?

Bredder Tukoma

Interesting points. Its seems only natural that Egyptian Christians adopted the cross after it was a similar symbol to which they were used to. But I highlighted that paragraph becuase it throws up an interesting point. The fact that the fish and the lamb were also used to symbolise their faith goes back to the astrological ages of the fish (pisces)2160 BCE and the lamb (Aries) 1 BCE. All to do with the great year of procession of 26000 years in which the movemnt of the Earth takes the observer watching the stars through each astrological age..approximately 2000 years. Hence the saviour at the end of the age who would be represented by the astrological symbol.

Quote:

Since the Roman catacombs have scenes of the nativity involving the childHoruswhich are almost identical to what is carved in the Temple of Luxor it only seems natural that they would eventually borrow the symbolism of the cross. Since they borrowed so much from ancient African mythos anyway...

Why Romans chose a cross to execute people on is a mystery though. Have you been able to shed any light on why that particular form of execution was used?

It was passed down from either Europe from Asia Minor where Rome authority was strongest and many of its workers were Greeks Macedonians Cyprus Turkish barbarians (Roman scholar indicated) from up North

or it was from Africa

which they say the Carthangians (spelling) North Africa-Libya gave Rome and Romans Punic Wars (Hannibal) the legs (foundations) to build a perfect empire or head all over the Mediteranean.

One Roman scholar stated the further south on goes from Rome the more civilized the people were.

So alot of conclusion can be made where but I am leaning that this came from Europe because the cross had a different relationship in Egypt at the time and afterwards.

My reason

Africa appears very little in Roman discourse.

Alot of the Roman empire declarations monies armies and soldier were dispatched in the upper Mediterranean regions based on biblical and written accounts.

And travel networks (highways and aqueducts) the Romans built were situated there.

Also the cross means stake in Greek, so they could have 'shekabob' (spelling) their criminals who commit crimes against the state.

double post...