GenesisNemesis

Did the Romans keep crucifixion records? If not, why?

Gooch's dad

They may well have, but why do you think such records would be expected to survive until today?

You realize that manuscripts only lasted a few dozens of years, and then had to be recopied? Who would bother recopying crucifixion records? Add to that the fact that Rome burned several times, plus all of Rome fell to the Vandals in the early 5th century.

Didymus

I don't believe there is any direct evidence that the Romans kept "official," government records of crucifixions. Of course, it stands to reason that owners of crucified slaves would have kept records of their slaves' deaths and how they died.

Such records - or references to them - may indeed exist. But there would have been no reason to record the crucifixion of a deranged homeless person.

Didymus

mountainman

The crucifixions were messages in themselves.
Dont f**k with the Roman Empire.

Early in the second
century 2000 Jews of the town of Emmaus were crucified
in the rule of Trajan. The Romans crucified hundreds
of thousands of non-Roman "barbarians" to set an
example. Paperwork would have comprised a summary
report, nothing more.

Here is the thesis summary from the
book "Barbarians" by Terry Jones:

"we've all been told
a false history of Rome that has twisted
our entire understanding
of our own history -
glorifying (and glossing over)
a long era of ruthless imperial power ..."

In 55 BCE it is estimated that one million Gallic celts
were killed by the Roman Imperial regime, and a further
million deported from their homelands as slaves.

Records? The record shows ruthless warlords committing
genocide on a large scale; professional rulers and subject
to none (because of their armies).

BH

Wasn't there a "Church Father" that made the comment that Jesus's crucifixion record could still be seen in Rome during the thrid or fourth century?

mountainman

Probably Tertullian, a Eusebian stooge.

fta

Justin and Tertullian both mention the apocryphal "Acts of Pilate", supposedly a report by Pilate to the Roman emperor re JC's crucifixion.

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/actspilate.html

neilgodfrey

To quote the "sturdy" F.F.Bruce in "Jesus and Christian Origins Outside the New Testament" p.23:

So, If we begin with Eusebian model of church history and growth, and if we take Tacitus' Christian note as authentic, then one may "assume" that records not likely to have been kept let alone survived to the time of Tacitus may in this one exceptional case have actually been kept and survived!

I'm currently having more fun with this F.F. Bruce book on my blog now that I've vent my spleen over one more erudite than I so soberly recommending it as some sort of antidote to "the fringe" views (as per my latest post on the Best HJ book thread) .....

Neil Godfrey

http://vridar.wordpress.com