Freethought & Rationalism Archive

bwcourtn · 01-13-2005, 07:43 PM

I've recently read that people who were crucified died with an erection, which was a physiological response to crucifixion, and was part of the shame in receiving the sentence. I find this quiet interesting.........I'm not sure what percentage (if not all) experienced this, though.

Toto · 01-13-2005, 07:51 PM

Source?

Kosh · 01-13-2005, 08:19 PM

I guess that explains why 1st century slang for the cross was..

The Big Woody

LeeBuhrul · 01-13-2005, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwcourtn

I've recently read that people who were crucified died with an erection, which was a physiological response to crucifixion, and was part of the shame in receiving the sentence. I find this quiet interesting.........I'm not sure what percentage (if not all) experienced this, though.

you mean he... when he was up th.... had a h....? :rolling:

That explains why she hung (oops) around to the bitter end...

Toto · 01-13-2005, 08:26 PM

Okay, lets keep this discussion on a level befitting an upper forum.

The Sexuality of Christ in Renaissance Art and in Modern Oblivion.

Quote:

A small number of pictures of Christ as Man of Sorrows, after having endured the flagellation and/or the crucifixion, show him with a phallic tumescence which the author admits "seems to us-and must have seemed to most artists-a miscarried symbol," a failure both of meaning and of art (p. 91). This motif seems to have been largely restricted to the sixteenth century and the Low Countries. The explanation which Steinberg cannot find in theology or in iconography may be found in the science of anatomy, which was being rapidly developed in that area and time: both extreme flagellation and crucifixion apparently can produce an erection, due to pressures on the blood circulation. In flagellation, wounded tissue undergoes swelling; and in crucifixion, the blood flows downwards to fill the lower extremities. Perhaps a few artists, caught up in the new science of anatomy, sought to introduce this naturalistic element, with results that were more shocking than effective.

Dave Roberts · 01-13-2005, 09:39 PM

Uhhhhhhhh........ NO!

Having seen tens of thousands of dead bodies (and in every imaginable state), I only saw ONCE, someone that SEEMED to be in that sense.

It was hard to tell, as he had himself in some sort of sucking device.

Not a good way to go.

ficino · 01-14-2005, 03:24 AM

I've heard of this happening with men who die by hanging, when constriction of the windpipe produces increased blood flow to the genital area (increased blood flow from constriction of neck also alleged to happen in females). Didn't know about it in victims of crucifixion.

bwcourtn · 01-14-2005, 06:07 AM

i believe i read this in "Mythology's Last Gods" by William Harwood. By the way, this is nearly the best book I have ever read.

Toto · 01-14-2005, 11:25 AM

Mythology's Last Gods: Yahweh and Jesus - gets mixed reviews on Amazon, but looks interesting.

mirage · 01-14-2005, 05:58 PM

It isn't due to blood pressure issues directly. It's because of autonomic nervous system dysregulation in extremis. Erections are produced by parasympathetic nervous system activity (this system antagonises the sympathetic system. Parasym does things like move digestion onwards, up secretions generally, slow heart rate and lower blood pressure, relax your bladder sphincter and contract bladder, increase urine production - generally chill you out and get on with the physiological housekeeping. Sympathetic is the "fight or flight" type responses, generally opposite. Symp is responsible for the ejaculation reflexes.)

So when people are really scared, their sympathetic system gears up, but things can be unstable and overshoot if there is a symp reduction, hence pissing yourself, a parasympathetic action.

When you're being flogged to death, hanged or crucified you can get erections as part of this along with ejaculation, pissing and shitting yourself. All very dignified.

Once dead the erection tends to subside, what with zero blood pressure and all.

01-13-2005, 07:43 PM	#1
bwcourtn Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: University MS Posts: 36	dying with an erection I've recently read that people who were crucified died with an erection, which was a physiological response to crucifixion, and was part of the shame in receiving the sentence. I find this quiet interesting.........I'm not sure what percentage (if not all) experienced this, though.

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01-13-2005, 07:51 PM	#2
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Source?

01-13-2005, 08:19 PM	#3
Kosh Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Orions Belt Posts: 3,911	I guess that explains why 1st century slang for the cross was.. The Big Woody

01-13-2005, 09:39 PM	#6
Dave Roberts Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,440	Uhhhhhhhh........ NO! Having seen tens of thousands of dead bodies (and in every imaginable state), I only saw ONCE, someone that SEEMED to be in that sense. It was hard to tell, as he had himself in some sort of sucking device. Not a good way to go.

01-14-2005, 03:24 AM	#7
ficino Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York Posts: 252	I've heard of this happening with men who die by hanging, when constriction of the windpipe produces increased blood flow to the genital area (increased blood flow from constriction of neck also alleged to happen in females). Didn't know about it in victims of crucifixion.

01-14-2005, 06:07 AM	#8
bwcourtn Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: University MS Posts: 36	i believe i read this in "Mythology's Last Gods" by William Harwood. By the way, this is nearly the best book I have ever read.

01-14-2005, 11:25 AM	#9
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Mythology's Last Gods: Yahweh and Jesus - gets mixed reviews on Amazon, but looks interesting.

01-14-2005, 05:58 PM	#10
mirage Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: UK Posts: 8,524	It isn't due to blood pressure issues directly. It's because of autonomic nervous system dysregulation in extremis. Erections are produced by parasympathetic nervous system activity (this system antagonises the sympathetic system. Parasym does things like move digestion onwards, up secretions generally, slow heart rate and lower blood pressure, relax your bladder sphincter and contract bladder, increase urine production - generally chill you out and get on with the physiological housekeeping. Sympathetic is the "fight or flight" type responses, generally opposite. Symp is responsible for the ejaculation reflexes.) So when people are really scared, their sympathetic system gears up, but things can be unstable and overshoot if there is a symp reduction, hence pissing yourself, a parasympathetic action. When you're being flogged to death, hanged or crucified you can get erections as part of this along with ejaculation, pissing and shitting yourself. All very dignified. Once dead the erection tends to subside, what with zero blood pressure and all.

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