Julian

Could you post the references to Cicero and Horace, please? I would be interested in checking it out.

Julian

andrewcriddle

According to Raymond Brown 'Death of the Messiah' p 912 There are references in Plautus (Carbonaria 2 and Miles Gloriosus 2.4.6-7) to the condemned man carrying the crossbeam (patibulum) to the place of execution before being fixed to the cross. (I haven't checked these references myself)

As to the word used (stauros) this goes back to a much earlier period. It is not IMO a guide to practice in Roman times.

FWIW the Epistle of Barnabas ch 9 clearly understood Jesus to have been crucified on a Tau cross. The use of a crossbeam is assumed by other 2nd century Christian writers.

Andrew Criddle

J-D

Sure thing. They give the references as Horace: Carmina i. 35 and Cicero: In Verrem v. 21.

Additional references cited to support the part about the peg supporting the crotch are Irenaeus: Heresies ii. 24; Justin: Dialogue xci. and Tertullian: Against Marcion iii. 18.

In the subsequent paragraph they again refer to the condemned carrying the cross-piece, citing Plutarch: De Sera Numinis Vindicata ix. and Artemidorus: Book ii. 56, and to the stake being fixed at the place of execution, citing Cicero: In Verrem v. 66 and Polybius Book 1. lxxxvi. 6. For the cross-piece being hoisted up the stake by a pulley they cite Pliny: Natural History 29. iv. 57.

They cite a number of other references on other aspects, but that should do to be going on with. I haven't checked any of these myself, and I apologise if there are any misprints.