How was a person executed by crucifixion?

• A. The condemned person was buried alive.
• B. The condemned person was hanged on a tree.
• C. The condemned person was tied to a wooden stake without a cross.
• D. The condemned person was nailed or tied to a large wooden cross and left to die, a process that could take hours or days.

Answer: (D)

Crucifixion was a Roman form of execution in which the condemned was fastened to a cross and left to die, often after being scourged. Nails were usually driven through the wrists (to support the body's weight) and sometimes through the feet, with the cross planted in the ground so the person’s body hung and endured intense strain. Death came from a combination of asphyxiation, dehydration, blood loss, and exhaustion, and could take hours or even days. This method is defined by the use of a cross and a prolonged death, rather than being buried alive, hanged on a tree, or tied to a stake without a cross.