Crucifixion

== Terminology ==
{{Further|Cross#Name}}
[[File:Crucifixion by G.Margkazinis (17th c.).jpg|thumb|250 px|left|''[[The Crucifixion (Margkazinis)|Crucifixion]]'' with Greek Inscriptions by [[Georgios Markazinis]] circa 1647]]
[[Ancient Greek]] has two verbs for crucify: {{transliteration|grc|anastauroo}} ({{lang|grc|ἀνασταυρόω}}), from {{transliteration|grc|[[stauros]]}} (which in modern Greek only means "[[cross]]" but which in antiquity was used for any kind of wooden pole, pointed or blunt, bare or with attachments) and {{transliteration|grc|apotumpanizo}} ({{lang|grc|ἀποτυμπανίζω}}) "crucify on a plank",<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Da)potumpani%2Fzw&highlight=crucify LSJ apotumpanizo] ἀποτυμπα^ν-ίζω (later ἀποτύμπα^ν-τυπ- UPZ119 (2nd century BC), POxy.1798.1.7), A. crucify on a plank, D.8.61,9.61:{{snd}}Pass., Lys.13.56, D.19.137, Arist. Rh. 1383a5, Beros. ap. J.Ap.1.20. 2. generally, destroy, Plu.2.1049d.</ref> together with {{transliteration|grc|anaskolopizo}} ({{lang|grc|ἀνασκολοπίζω}} "[[impale]]"). In earlier pre-Roman Greek texts {{transliteration|grc|anastauro}} usually means "impale".<ref>LSJ anastauro ἀνασταυρ-όω, = foreg., Hdt.3.125, 6.30, al.; identical with ἀνασκολοπίζω, 9.78:{{snd}}Pass., Th. 1.110, Pl.Grg.473c. II. in Rom. times, affix to a cross, crucify, Plb. 1.11.5, al., Plu.Fab.6, al. 2. crucify afresh, Ep.Hebr.6.6.</ref><ref>Plutarch Fabius Maximus 6.3 "Hannibal now perceived the mistake in his position, and its peril, and crucified the native guides who were responsible for it."</ref><ref>Polybius 1.11.5 [5] [https://archive.org/details/polybioyistoriai00polyuoft Historiae]. Polybius. Theodorus Büttner-Wobst after L. Dindorf. Leipzig. Teubner. 1893.</ref>

The Greek used in the Christian [[New Testament]] uses four verbs, three of them based upon {{transliteration|grc|stauros}} ({{lang|grc|σταυρός}}), usually translated "cross". The most common term is {{transliteration|grc|stauroo}} ({{lang|grc|σταυρόω}}), "to crucify", occurring 46 times; {{transliteration|grc|sustauroo}} ({{lang|grc|συσταυρόω}}), "to crucify with" or "alongside" occurs five times, while {{transliteration|grc|anastauroo}} ({{lang|grc|ἀνασταυρόω}}), "to crucify again" occurs only once at the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] [[Hebrews 6:6|6:6]]. {{transliteration|grc|Prospegnumi}} ({{lang|grc|προσπήγνυμι}}), "to fix or fasten to, impale, crucify" occurs only once, at the [[Acts of the Apostles]] [[Acts 2:23|2:23]].

The English term ''cross'' derives from the [[Latin]] word {{lang|la|crux}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cross |title=Online Etymology Dictionary, "cross" |publisher=Etymonline.com |access-date=2009-12-19}}</ref> which classically referred to a tree or any construction of wood used to hang criminals as a form of execution. The term later came to refer specifically to a cross.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3Dcrux Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, ''A Latin Dictionary'':] crux, ŭcis, f. (m., Enn. ap. Non. p. 195, 13; Gracch. ap. Fest. s. v. masculino, p. 150, 24, and 151, 12 Müll.) [perh. kindred with circus].
I. Lit. A. In gen., a tree, frame, or other wooden instruments of execution, on which criminals were impaled or hanged, Sen. Prov. 3, 10; Cic. Rab. Perd. 3, 10 sqq.{{snd}}
B. In partic., a cross, Ter. And. 3, 5, 15; Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 3, §&nbsp;7; 2, 1, 4, §&nbsp;9; id. Pis. 18, 42; id. Fin. 5, 30, 92; Quint. 4, 2, 17; Tac. A. 15, 44; Hor. S. 1, 3, 82; 2, 7, 47; id. Ep. 1, 16, 48 et saep.: "dignus fuit qui malo cruce periret, Gracch. ap. Fest. l. l.: pendula", the pole of a carriage, Stat. S. 4, 3, 28.</ref> The related term ''crucifix'' derives from the Latin {{lang|la|crucifixus}} or {{lang|la|cruci fixus}}, past participle passive of {{lang|la|crucifigere}} or {{lang|la|cruci figere}}, meaning "to crucify" or "to fasten to a cross".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/crucify |title=Collins English Dictionary, "crucify" |publisher=Collins |date=31 December 2011 |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/crucify?view=uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521192929/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/crucify?view=uk |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 21, 2013 |title=Compact Oxford English Dictionary, "crucify" |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://websters.yourdictionary.com/crucify |title=Webster New World College Dictionary, "crucify" |work=yourdictionary.com/ |access-date=12 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=crucify |title=Online Etymology Dictionary, "crucify"|publisher=Etymonline.com|access-date=2009-12-19}}</ref>