Crucifixion

Crucifixion was a particularly painful form of capital punishment, used widely in the Roman Empire but also by some ancient cultures before them, in which the victim was fixed to a cross (hence the name) or tree, post, etc. Typically, the hands were tied or nailed up over the head or laterally, with arms outstretched. In either case, as the victim weakened, more of the victim's body weight was supported by the upper limbs, which made breathing more difficult and eventually caused suffocation. Jesus is said to have been executed in this manner.