Expert: Maria - 10/14/2007

Question
QUESTION: In what year or about what era/time did the Romans begin the practice of crucifixion

ANSWER: Hello,

Apparently, the Romans began the practice of crucifixion at the end of the second century B.C., after they  had learned such a practice from the Carthaginians, though this capital punishment is believed to have begun long before in the Persian Empire.

We know that crucifixion  was employed as a method of execution for non-Romans, i.e.  those who were not Roman citizens, like Jesus for example, while Roman citizens were condemned to be beheaded  (St. Paul e.g.).

Frequently slaves convicted of certain crimes were punished by crucifixion which consists of  a wooden beam, known in Latin as a ‘furca’ or ‘patibulum’, placed on the slave's neck and bound to his arms. The upright post, or ‘stipes’ in Latin, was generally fixed in the ground at the site of execution and the condemned man was forced to carry the ‘patibulum’ from the prison to the place of execution.

Have a nice day,
Maria


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What type of punishment did the Romans practice before crucifixion?

Answer
Hello,

As we read in The Law of the Twelve Tables, i.e. the ancient legislation which was written in 451-449 BC and  stood at the foundation of Roman law, before crucifixion the Romans practiced:
-hanging;
-hurling from the Tarpeian Rock, a steep cliff of the southern summit of the Capitoline Hill (only for treason or false testimony);
-burning alive;
-fatal beating (only for slaves);
-drowning in a sack;
-decapitation.

Best,
Maria