Crucifixion

Crucifixion is the killing of a person by nailing or tying them naked to a large wooden cross, then leaving them to hang there until dead. It was widely used in ancient times; there is evidence that captured pirates were crucified in the port of Athens in the 7th century B.C.

Crucifixion was used extensively by the Romans as a method of execution, usually for political offenders, sometimes including common criminals and slaves. Crucifixion was believed to be dishonourable way of death. Different kinds of crosses could be used. (How this was done... different ways ...) There can be several causes of death by crucifixion: physical shock, exhaustion and loss of blood.

Famous crucifixions

• Jesus Christ was crucified.
• Spartacus ? too
• Peter (crucified upside down)
• Andrew (crucified on an X-shaped cross)
• Archbishop Joachim of Nizhny Novgorod (crucified upside down, on the Royal Doors of the Cathedral in Sebastopol, U.S.S.R. in 1920)

The main character, Brian, in Life of Brian by Monty Python is also crucified.