oiiflCVOi.
It was generally assumed in early times that the cross on which Jesus suffered was a erux immissa. Thus Augustine (in Psalm, ciii. § 14) finds in Epli S's a mystic allusion to the cross : ' breadth ' being the transom on which His hands were outstretched ; ' length,' the upright on which His body was fastened ; ' height,' the head of the upright pro- truding above the transom ; ' depth,' the lower end buried in the earth. And it is a confirmation of this opinion that the board inscribed with His name and accusation was put up over His head (Mt 27"), apparently on the projection of the upright.
The early Apologists fancifully defended the sacred symbol of the cross against the sneers of unbehevers by pointing to its appearance everywhere, as though nature and art alike did homage to it. It is seen in the quarters of the heaven, ^ " as it were, running from "' '- " --•■ '
in i
ing from N. to S. and from upward with spread wings ; in a man swimming or praying "with outstretched hands ; in the nose and eyebrows of the human face ; in a ship's mast and yard ; in a galley's oars projecting on either side ; in the yoke of a plough and the handle of a spade ; in the shape of trophies ani fasces.' See Tree.
The erueiarius was spared no circumstance of ignominy. He was required to carry the transom to the place of execution ; t he was driven thither with goad and scourge along the most frequented streets, that the populace might profit by so signal an exhibition of the terrors of justice ; and a herald went before, bearing a board whereon the victim's name and offence were inscribed.t Thus burdened and tormented, Jesus went His sorrowful way from the Prsetorium till He reached the gate of the city (Mt 27^2) ; and there His strength failed, and He could go no farther. Tradition has it that He fell. The soldiers relieved Him of His burden, and, impressing Simon of Cyrene, laid it on his shoulders. Even then Jesus was imable to walk unsupported, and had to be borne along to the scene of His crucifixion. Cf. Mk 15-- (pipovinv
90 C-E ; Tert. Apol.
">um."rS!5r§9; Arteniidor. Oneir. ii. 01;
as Lightfoot on Mt 273>.
398
CEUCIFIXION
CRUCIFIXION
On arrival at the place of execution (see GOL- GOTHA), four soldiers were told off by the centurion in charge to do the work (cf. Jn 19-'). They jiro- ceeded in the customary way. First of all, the cruciarius was stripped naked, his garments being regarded as the rightful perquisites of his execu- tioners.* Then he was laid on his back over tlie transom and his hands fastened to either end. Thereafter the transom was hoisted on the upright and his feet were fastened to the latter. Usually the hands were nailed through the palms and the feet were fixed either by two nails, one through each instep, or by a single nail transfixing both through the Achilles tendon ; sometimes, however, the liands and feet were simply tied.f Though less painful at the moment, the latter was the more terrible method, since it protracted tlie victim's sufferings. He hung till he died of hun- ger and exhaustion, or was devoured by birds and beasts of prey. J The hands of Jesus were certainly nailed, but it seems that His feet were only tied (cf. Jn 20**- "• ").§ The sole Evangelic authority for supposing that they were nailed is Lk 24'^* W, which is probably assimilated to Ps 22'*. From two circumstances, (1) that a soldier could reach the lips of Jesus with a short reed (Mt27* = Mk 15*'=Jn 19=»), and (2) that wUd beasts could tear out the entrails of the cruciarius as he hung,|| it appears that the cross was of no great height. It was enough if the feet cleared the ground.
There was a humane custom among the Jews, based on Pr 31*, that a potion of medicated wine should be administered to the cruciarii in order to deaden their sensibility. The merciful drauglit was provided by a society of charitable ladies in Jeru- salem.lT It was offered to Jesus ere the nails were driven through His hands, and He raised it to His thirsty lips ; but on tasting what it was He would not drink it. What was His reason for rejecting it ? It was not that the endurance of physical pain was necessary to the efficacy of His sacrificial death ; ** nor was it merely that He had a sentimental repug- nance to the idea of dying in a state of stupefac- tion, tt It was rather because He was bent on doing to the last the work which had been gi^en Him to do. It was well for the penitent brigand that Jesus did not drink the potion.
It was usual for the victims of that frightful punishment, maddened by terror and pain, to shriek, entreat, curse, and spit at their executioners and the bystanders ; XX hut Jesus endured the torture meekly. A cry broke from His lips as they were hammering the nails through His hands ; but it was a prayer — not an appeal to them for mercy on Himself, but an appeal to God for mercy on them : ' Father, forgive them : for they know not what they are doing.' §§ The transom withjits quivering loai was hoisted on the upright, and there He hun;,', conscious of all that passed around Him. It is said that St. Andrew, as he hung upon his cross at Patrje, taught the people all the while ;|||| and Jesus also in His anguish was mindful of others. Two brigands had been crucified with Him, two of