Rome’s punishment of political rebels and lower-class criminals

The crucifixion

In pre-republican times, the Romans sometimes punished disobedient slaves by tying them to the barren trees and lashed them to death.24 According to this there is a thesis that the crucifixion could have developed from the ancient custom of the arbori suspenddere, which was to hang an inmate from an infelix arbor (unfortunate tree) dedicated to the gods of the world of darkness.

Under the penal practice of ancient Rome the crucifixion also exhibited the low social status of the criminal. It was used for and was later extended to freedmen from the provinces ("humble"), rebels, pirates and for enemies and hated criminals. Both women and men were crucified. The condemned Roman citizens were not crucified. They were exempt from hanging as they died more honorably by decapitation. The exception was when major crimes against the state were committed, such as high treason. The crucified victim had to undress completely before being nailed to the cross, regardless of whether it was male or female. That is why crucifixion was considered the most shameful and humiliating way to die.