I, 1037) high-placed ladies in Jerusalem used to give an intoxicating drink to the condemned before execution in order to make them insensitive to pain.”68 If the purpose of crucifixion was to maximize suffering this could not be allowed; yet it was done with full knowledge of its practice by the Romans.69 If, however, crucifixion was to be a public example that every rebel ultimately must submit to Rome’s rule, then the authorities could allow the practice. It is this author’s opinion that the historical