Q: What was the precise cause of death in those who were
crucified? A: The cause of death from crucifixion has long been
a source of debate among pathologists (for a recent review, see
"Execution by crucifixion", by J. E. Holoubek and A. B.
Holoubek, Journal of Medicine vol 26, p1). For many years it was
believed that the principal cause of death was asphyxiation, a
conclusion based on eyewitness accounts of the crucifixion of
prisoners of the Austro-Hungarian army in the First World War,
and of concentration camp inmates at Dachau. Victims left
hanging by their arms, their feet off the ground, were seen to
have severe difficulty exhaling which was caused by
hyperexpansion of the lungs, and drew themselves up by their
arms to relieve their suffering. After a short while the muscles
of the victims went into spasms and, unable to lift themselves
and exhale, they died ... To continue reading this article,
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