“He would have been laid down, and his hands would have been nailed in the outstretched position to the horizontal beam. This crossbar was called the patibulum, and at this stage it was separate from the vertical beam, which was permanently set in the ground.” I was having difficulty visualizing this; I needed more details. “Nailed with what?” I asked. “Nailed where?” “The Romans used spikes that were five to seven inches long and tapered to a sharp point. They were driven through the wrists,” Metherell said, pointing about an inch or so below his left palm. “Hold it,” I interrupted. “I
...more
