10 Worst Ways People Have Been Tortured To Death

Crucifixion was a favorite method of execution by the Romans, but that culture was hardly the only one to utilize it. The ancient Greeks preferred not to use it, but did on occasion while the Macedonians favored crucifixion over other execution methods. The practice of nailing a person to something and watching them slowly die has been around for millennia, but it doesn't always involve a cross.

Some of the earliest forms of crucifixion involved people being tethered or nailed to tall posts with their arms held together above their heads while their feet were attached below.

The most well-known use of crucifixion in history was of course Jesus' crucifixion upon a cross. Crosses were used more frequently as the method developed into widespread use across Rome. Not all crucifixions used nails to bind the wrists and feet — rope worked just as well and resulted in the same outcome: death.

Death by crucifixion came as a result of dehydration, but could come in other ways. If dehydration didn't kill the victim, infection, sepsis, and even animal predation would result in the victim's eventual demise. Throughout history, there are thousands of accounts of this method of torture and regardless of how the execution was carried out, it was indeed meant to cause pain and humiliation to the victim.