Patibulum

The patibulum is the transverse part of the cross intended for the Crucifixion. It could be attached two or three feet in lower part of the higher end of the vertically planted post.

The most common form used by the Roman was the cross of Tau, formed as our T. the patibulum was placed in a notch in top of the post. Etymological significance of the word " croix" would be " gibet".

The cross of Christ and the patibulum

Christ was crucifié on the Mont Golgotha. Its cross, also called True Cross, will become later a particularly coveted relic.

In spite of the traditional representations, last archaeological research shows that it was on the type of cross in T that Jesus was crucifié and not on the model of the Latin cross.

Indeed, without any historical or biblical proof, the medieval painters and of the Renaissance represented Christ carrying the Latin and whole cross.

Actually the vertical post, called Feather-grasses , was generally fixed in a permanent way in the ground at the site of the execution. Condemned was forced to carry the patibulum of the prison instead of execution condemned carried it across the shoulders, the front armlevers attached to wood by cords. It weighed approximately 20 to 30 kilos, a load properly crushing for one condemned which already had just undergone a scourging.

Jesus would thus have carried this transverse part and not the cross in its totality.

The error on the Latin shape of the cross can be explained starting from the small sign ( titulus ) which stated the crime of the victim. This support nailed with the top of the cross would have given him a little the form characteristic of the Latin cross, which would explain the errors of representation.

Anecdote

The French word “patibulaire” (generally employed to define “a man in the worrying air”) is resulting from the Latin word patibulum and means with the clean direction from the term “which deserves to carry a cross” or “which belongs to the gibet”.

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