As the emblem of a slave’s death and a murderer’s punishment, the cross was naturally looked
upon with the profoundest horror. But after the celebrated vision of Constantine, he ordered his
friends to make a cross of gold and gems, such as he had seen, and “the towering eagles resigned
the flags unto the cross,” and “the tree of cursing and shame” “sat upon the sceptres and was
engraved and signed on the foreheads of kings.” (Jer. Taylor, “Life of Christ,” iii., xv. 1.) The new
standards were called by the name Labarum, and may be seen on the coins of Constantine the Great
and his nearer successors. The Latin cross on which our Lord suffered, was int he form of the letter
T, and had an upright above the cross-bar, on which the “title” was placed. There was a projection
from the central stem, on which the body of the sufferer rested. This was to prevent the weight of
the body from tearing away the hands. Whether there was also a support to the feet (as we see in
pictures) is doubtful. An inscription was generally placed above the criminal’s head, briefly
expressing his guilt, and generally was carried before him. It was covered with white gypsum, and
the letter were black.
Crown
This ornament, which is both ancient and universal, probably originated from the fillets used
to prevent the hair from being dishevelled by the wind. Such fillets are still common; they gradually
developed into turbans, which by the addition of ornamental or precious materials assumed the
dignity of mitres or crowns. Both the ordinary priests and the high priest wore them. The crown
was a symbol of royalty, and was worn by kings, (2 Chronicles 23:11) and also by queens. (Esther
2:17) The head-dress of bridegrooms, (Ezekiel 24:17; Isaiah 61:10) Bar. 5:2, and of women, (Isaiah
3:20) a head-dress of great splendor, (Isaiah 28:5) a wreath of flowers, (Proverbs 1:9; 4:9) denote
crowns. In general we must attach to it the notion of a costly turban irradiated with pearls and gems
of priceless value, which often form aigrettes for feathers, as in the crowns of modern Asiatics
sovereigns. Such was probably the crown which weighed (or rather “was worth”) a talent, mentioned
in (2 Samuel 12:30) taken by David from the king of Ammon at Rabbah, and used as the state
crown of Judah. (2 Samuel 12:30) In (Revelation 12:3; 19:12) allusion is made to “many crowns”
worn in token of extended dominion. The laurel, pine or parsley crowns given to victors int he great
games of Greece are finely alluded to by St. Paul. (1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 2:5) etc.
Crown Of Thorns
(Matthew 27:29) Our Lord was crowned with thorns in mockery by the Roman soldiers.
Obviously some small flexile thorny shrub is meant perhaps Capparis spinosa. “Hasselquist, a
Swedish naturalist, supposes a very common plant naba or nubka of the Arabs, with many small
and sharp sines; soft, round and pliant branches; leaves much resembling ivy, of a very deep green,
as if in designed mockery of a victor’s wreath.”—Alford.
Crucifixion
was in used among the Egyptians, (Genesis 40:19) the Carthaginians, the Persians, (Esther 7:10)
the Assyrians, Scythains, Indians, Germans, and from the earliest times among the Greeks and
Romans. Whether this mode of execution was known to the ancient Jews is a matter of dispute.
Probably the Jews borrowed it from the Romans. It was unanimously considered the most horrible
form of death. Among the Romans the degradation was also a part of the infliction, and the
punishment if applied to freemen was only used in the case of the vilest criminals. The one to be
crucified was stripped naked of all his clothes, and then followed the most awful moment of all.
He was laid down upon the implement of torture. His arms were stretched along the cross-beams,
and at the centre of the open palms the point of a huge iron nail was placed, which, by the blow of
frankie
(Frankie)
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