post #3586387 post #2293348 post #4795280

Crucifixion is a type of torture and execution invented by the Roman Empire as a more 'humane' alternative to impalement - in actual fact, it was no less cruel. The condemned is tied or nailed to a wooden beam in such a way that they need continuously to pull themselves up with their arms to breathe. Eventually, the victim either tires out, or their own body weight dislocates their arms, causing a slow, inevitable death by asphyxiation. Some executioners would prolong the victim's suffering with a cornu - a spiked seat that would prevent the victim from sagging too far down and quickly suffocating, with the drawback of impaling the victim's genitals if sat upon. The pain would incentivise the victim to continue pulling themselves up even when nearly exhausted, and prevent a quick death once they couldn't fight to hold themselves up anymore.

Depending on their health and strength, a crucified person can remain alive for anywhere from several hours to several days, during which they would be subject to additional tortures like whipping and burning. Sometimes, if the condemned lingers for too long, their legs are broken to ensure that they can't hold themselves up, or they are stabbed through the heart to ensure death.

Because of its historical and sometimes religious significance, this distinctive pose and predicament has been shown in art for numerous symbolic reasons over the centuries.

Also, a similar pose and predicament is sometimes created using bondage and other tools during bdsm play. Obviously, the bondage version is temporary and non-fatal (much like the difference between a one-bar prison and an actual execution by impalement).

Please note: This tag is used for the distinctive pose, situation and concept of crucifixion - even if no torture or death is depicted.

Related tags:

• execution - The act of deliberately putting someone to death as a penalty for an offense
• gore - The artistic depiction of extreme violence performed upon a character.
• torture - A character inflicts severe mental or physical suffering on another character.
• nailed - when nails or other small implements are driven through the flesh to secure a character in place
• Cornu_(device) - a spike added to a crucifixion to impale the anus or vagina.
• bound - when rope or other types of bondage are used to bind a character in place
• cross - a t-shaped cross, used for any purpose
• saint_andrew's_cross - an x-shaped cross, most often used as bondage furniture and with BDSM play

See also:

• death - A character is no longer living.
• dying - A character is in the actual process of succumbing to death.
• impalement - Execution via penetrating the body with a stake or pole.
• killing - The depiction of a character being killed.
• murdered - The depiction of a character being killed without any justification.
• sadism - A character derives pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others.
• snuff - A character derives sexual pleasure from death.