Most of the pictures of the cross are very misleading. The cross is a towering structure with the crosspiece fastened in an indeterminate way. If he carried it, how could it fit so neatly in the space between the top and the bottom vertical beam. The actual cross was T shaped. The Romans needed something simple because of the number of crosses they needed to execute folks. Six thousand of the followers of Spartacus were crucified along the highways of Italy.
The prisoner was crucified naked, with his legs folded up under him so that his heels were against his rump. Often a nail was positioned behind him so that each movement was further agonizing. The cross was supposed to be lower than the people who viewed the crucified person. It was easier to mount him on the cross that way and also everyone who passed could look down on him rather than up to him. A fine point of Roman etiquette.
When someone mentioned to me that the crucifixion in the movie “The Passion of Christ” was too gruesome, it struck me that we have little idea how much he suffered for us.
My Bible Study Notebook 