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Crucifixions of Rufus
- Thread starter Rufuss
- Start date
Why you aren't the new Calvin Klein model is beyond me!
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh” I yelled the pain out. My hand, wrist and arm exploded in pain. My vision blurred. The suffering was so intense I saw flashes of light and childhood flashbacks in my mind and I heard my pulse and blood flow in my ears. My heart was beating so hard I thought it's going to burst out of my skinny chest. I was whining like a newborn baby, tears flowing everywhere.
Attachments
scott c.
Magistrate
MARIVS
Assistant executioner
Forgive my weakness as I am crucified next to you. I begged for Myrrh and repented of my crimes, knowing I deserve death.
scott c.
Magistrate
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He doesn't deserve mercy, nail him to the cross.
scott c.
Magistrate
Geez, no mercy, huh? Remind us to never get on your bad side! LOL
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bodnardavid1026
Spectator
This is fantastic. Good concept 
Marcus III
Guard
Alba
Onlooker
Would love to fill one of those crosses
fitoreyes83
Guard
Who will you choose to fill those crosses?
This is the first picture in a series depicting a further crucifixion of Rufuss and Alice. The posterised treatment invites comparison with the arena crux manipulations of Michele Patri. The background is dominated by earthworks and fortified city walls, outside which we have a dedicated execution site capable of accommodating at least five condemned criminals.
Each of the permanent stakes has a hook for mounting a titulus, a rebate to accept the patibulum and (except the centre cross) a footrest tied on. The ladder indicates that these are relatively high crosses, each stake standing eleven or twelve feet tall. Rufuss is tied to the cross. As observed by @Marcus III , no nails have been employed.
I cannot identify the model posing in the role of Alice in this first scene. Her hands are apparently bound behind her back, precluding her carrying her own cross beam. The patibulum is being brought by a legionary in full ceremonial dress, with an abbreviated plume on his helmet. Two more soldiers are similarly attired, all of which implies that we are witnessing the executions of some high profile offenders.
The mounted officer is expecting trouble and has his shield at the ready. He is the only one who can address Rufuss directly, at the same eye level. 'Alice' has her face upturned to view the upper part of the stake, which will be her final destination. She wears the small, dark loincloth which is characteristic of Rufuss' portrayals of Alice.
The picture is cropped at knee level, so we cannot see what the crouching legionary is doing at the base of the cross. Presumably, he is driving in wedges to secure the post, and this would explain why he has removed his armour. He is evidently a veteran and has been kicked in the head during numerous previous crucifixions, and so he keeps his helmet on in anticipation of such behaviour by the defiant Alice.
The bearded man on the left would be a member of the Sicarii, if he kept his dagger concealed. Perhaps he is intending to use it to cut the bindings of the crucified prisoners to free them, when the Romans are not looking? At this stage, they do not appear to have noticed him. Nice work, Rufuss.
As for the question, 'How did Alice end up on the cross?' in this case, she has offended the occupation forces in a manner consistent with Rufuss' previous illustrations, in which both characters suffer this fate together. The Romans were hardly renowned for capturing rebels, incarcerating them and then letting them go for good behaviour. The Romans knew that the offenders would go and do it again, so inevitably the death penalty was the only guarantee against this occuring.
It is worth noting that in the numerous crux manipulations of Alice, she is usually crucified either alone or with other females. Only occasionally is she crucified in the company of male offenders. She has been so portrayed previously by Rufuss, and also notably by @Wragg , in another First Century drama, entitled, 'Alice Barabbas'.
dfg42
Consul
A gentleman would spend his loincloth, to cover the shame of the girl.