Hi, All - just some musings. Maybe you'll enjoy them.
It seems to me that crucifixion is in some sense the ultimate end of a power struggle. The man or woman hanging naked, nailed to a cross, challenged Rome in some way, big or small, and lost. In extreme macho fashion, Rome does not consider the conflict over until its adversary is utterly, publicly destroyed in every possible way. Putting them to death is less retribution and more a show of power and vitality, showing the adversary as puny, pathetic, and powerless, while Rome is mighty, all-powerful.
How best to demonstrate a person's powerlessness? To start, they must of course be forced to do or endure things that no one would do or endure if they had the power to avoid it. Every conceivable way must be found to go against their will. Do you want to be beaten? Of course not, so we're going to beat you. Do you want others to watch while you are punished? Of course not, so we will punish you in a public place where everyone can watch. Do you want your friends, family, fellow-citizens, neighbors, and random passers-by to see your private parts? Of course not, so we will strip you naked and put you on display for anyone who cares to look at you.
Then there are the physical illustrations of powerlessness. You are not strong. You thought you could stand up to Rome, but you are pathetic and weak. We will illustrate this fact by flogging you until you visibly lack physical strength. We will fasten you to a cross so that 1) you cannot move - another form of powerlessness, 2) you are hanging, not standing or sitting, and have no way to rest - a position of visible powerlessness, and 3) as already mentioned, your nakedness is on public display, and you are powerless to cover yourself.
Then there are the nails. All of the above could be accomplished with ropes, but nails show you as an object - a thing - a thing not worth preserving intact. So what if we put holes in your wrists and feet? We won't be using you for anything after this. This also gives another visible illustration of powerlessness: you are obviously in complete agony, partly because we just want to hurt you, sure - but more because as you shudder, moan, and weep, you show yourself to be broken and pathetic.
Much has been written about rape as an expression of power, and I think it applies very much to crucifixion, regardless of whether the prisoner was actually raped by soldiers before being crucified. It seems plausible, maybe even likely, that many crucified people were partially impaled on pegs jutting out from the cross. Just in case the above factors had not yet made it entirely clear to everyone watching you die, the peg up your butt or vagina made it very clear - you have no dignity anymore. You are being fucked by Rome, and we're all watching. You are nothing. You are defeated. You have lost - bathe in the shame. Rome has won.
Even if no cornu is involved, nailing a naked woman or man to a cross is obviously an act of sexual violence, and the sexual dimension has a profound psychological significance, both to the condemned and to the onlookers.
Death is almost just a side-effect of this punishment.
