Crucifixion
Crucifixion (pronunciation: /ˌkruːsɪˈfɪkʃən/) is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden beam and left to hang, usually until death.
Etymology
The term crucifixion comes from the Latin crucifixio, or crucifixus, meaning "fixed to a cross". The prefix cruci- comes from crux, the Latin word for "cross". The suffix -fixion comes from figere, the Latin verb meaning "to fix or fasten".
History
Crucifixion was most frequently used to punish political or religious agitators, pirates, slaves, or those who had no rights under Roman law. The Roman Empire is most famous for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, but the method was used long before this event and continued to be used well into the Middle Ages.
Procedure
The condemned person was usually stripped naked and flogged before being affixed to the cross. Nails would be driven into the wrists and feet, and the cross would then be raised upright. The person would then be left to hang until death, which could take hours or even days.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Crucifixion
- Wikipedia's article - Crucifixion
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski