10 Absolute Worst Ways To Die According To Science

5. Crucifixion

As far as execution methods go, crucifixion is probably one of the most high-profile, and it's definitely no barrel of laughs.

Many of us tend to think of it as almost purely symbolic, but the reality is that it was an unbelievably brutal method of torture and execution. Everybody probably has a pretty strong mental image of a crucifixion, but the actual cause of death is less well known.

Although sticking nails through a person's hands and feet and leaving them on a remote hilltop will probably not do them much good, it is thought that the actual cause of death for most crucified people was actually suffocation.

Initially, when a person is nailed to a cross, they will instinctively try to support their weight on their injured hands and feet, but once the strength gives out in the legs, the arms are pulled from their sockets and the chest hangs down. This makes it incredibly difficult to fully exhale and the carbon dioxide levels in the body will go up and up as they can do little else but take tiny sips of air.

This process can take many hours, even days. In fact, it was considered the kinder practice to break the victim's legs first so that their period of suffering is shortened.