Fall Of The Temple – Crux Illustrated Story

[Steve]

The scourging has concluded …

The Roman custom was that pre-crucifixion scourging was limited to 38 strokes. But here on the battlefield, the Legionaries showed no such restraint. The pain Leah endured was incomprehensible and she was surprised she did not pass out.

Shocked by the ferocity of the scourging, Leah awaited the next stage of this horrific ordeal. She hoped that her comrades had completed their work on the counter-offensive so her sacrifice was not in vain.

 

[Shoshana Crux Dove]

Thank you, everyone, for your likes and comments. @Shoshana Crux Dove , your additions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you Steve. Keep blessing us with your art: you are well and truly gifted!

 

[mp5stab]

The scourging has concluded …

The Roman custom was that pre-crucifixion scourging was limited to 38 strokes. But here on the battlefield, the Legionaries showed no such restraint. The pain Leah endured was incomprehensible and she was surprised she did not pass out.

Shocked by the ferocity of the scourging, Leah awaited the next stage of this horrific ordeal. She hoped that her comrades had completed their work on the counter-offensive so her sacrifice was not in vain.

View attachment 1478942

Beautiful. I'm as stunned as she is!

 

[Steve]

As Leah lay on the ground, gripped by agony and exhaustion from the scourging, the Legionaries were prepared to drag her to the upright and her place of crucifixion. But she summoned her fleeting strength and stood up defiantly.

One Legionary locked an iron collar around her neck and another brought the crossbeam along with the instruments of crucifixion. Leah would carry the crossbeam like so many of her forbearers.

 

[mp5stab]

Wow, this will be quite the series. Dare I say it will rival your Petra! I can hardly wait to see whatever you make next. You are on a roll!

 

[Aluafaen]

As Leah lay on the ground, gripped by agony and exhaustion from the scourging, the Legionaries were prepared to drag her to the upright and her place of crucifixion. But she summoned her fleeting strength and stood up defiantly.

One Legionary locked an iron collar around her neck and another brought the crossbeam along with the instruments of crucifixion. Leah would carry the crossbeam like so many of her forbearers.

View attachment 1480311

so I was looking forward to this, and my desire is growing!! great drawing, great story, and excellent processing!!

thanks, and I look forward to the sequel!

 

[Steve]

Thank you again, everyone, for your likes and comments.

As thousands of Legionaries prepared for their assault on the Antonia Fortress, two Legionaries led Leah to her place of execution.

Despite projecting a brave front, Leah was gripped by terror as her eyes locked on the upright in the distance. She was willingly giving her life to save the Temple, but she dreaded such an excruciating end.

 

[Aluafaen]

Thank you again, everyone, for your likes and comments.

As thousands of Legionaries prepared for their assault on the Antonia Fortress, two Legionaries led Leah to her place of execution.

Despite projecting a brave front, Leah was gripped by terror as her eyes locked on the upright in the distance. She was willingly giving her life to save the Temple, but she dreaded such an excruciating end.

View attachment 1483030

better just got better!!
wow I really enjoy your pictures!!

 

[Loinclothslave]

Thank you again, everyone, for your likes and comments.

As thousands of Legionaries prepared for their assault on the Antonia Fortress, two Legionaries led Leah to her place of execution.

Despite projecting a brave front, Leah was gripped by terror as her eyes locked on the upright in the distance. She was willingly giving her life to save the Temple, but she dreaded such an excruciating end.

View attachment 1483030

Most evocative image so far, I’m loving this thread, Steve

 

[Yupar]

As Leah lay on the ground, gripped by agony and exhaustion from the scourging, the Legionaries were prepared to drag her to the upright and her place of crucifixion. But she summoned her fleeting strength and stood up defiantly.

One Legionary locked an iron collar around her neck and another brought the crossbeam along with the instruments of crucifixion. Leah would carry the crossbeam like so many of her forbearers.

View attachment 1480311

This pose is magnificent..

Thank you again, everyone, for your likes and comments.

As thousands of Legionaries prepared for their assault on the Antonia Fortress, two Legionaries led Leah to her place of execution.

Despite projecting a brave front, Leah was gripped by terror as her eyes locked on the upright in the distance. She was willingly giving her life to save the Temple, but she dreaded such an excruciating end.

View attachment 1483030

Her fate is like Jeddak 's Sabina...and me by Mobieus ..
I like this way of carrying a cross beam

 

[robn13]

Another of Steve's artistic trademarks: when the victim first gains sight of the stipes from which she will soon be hanging and realizes her gruesome fate is sealed.....

Nynia (1). Petra (2,3). And now Leah (4).

 

[Salumaleco]

This is truly excellent. Can’t wait to see more of that Jewish beauty Steve

 

[Steve]

Thank you again, everyone.

Yes, @Yupar , I did the patibulum carrying style in homage of Jeddak, and like Mobieus’s great illustration of you. For this series, I am paying homage to several artists who have done crux illustrations in the past or present.

I’m glad you recognize that @robn13 . I also did a similar illustration in THE WITCH when poor Agnes sees the gallows for the first time. I think its such an important moment in the stories for my protagonists. Despite how brave are defiant they are, an instinctual, visceral fear overcomes them at the moment when they first see the instruments of their demise. These stories are both a physical and emotional journey.

 

[Steve]

THE FALL OF THE TEMPLE continues …

In a diabolically effective strategy, one Legionary chained Leah’s collar to the upright while the other prepared to yank her back by her ankle shackles. This would cause Leah to grab the collar with one hand and brace her fall with the other.

As a result, Leah would instinctively fight against getting strangled and not against having her wrist pinned and nailed to the crossbeam.

 

[Shoshana Crux Dove]

THE FALL OF THE TEMPLE continues …

In a diabolically effective strategy, one Legionary chained Leah’s collar to the upright while the other prepared to yank her back by her ankle shackles. This would cause Leah to grab the collar with one hand and brace her fall with the other.

As a result, Leah would instinctively fight against getting strangled and not against having her wrist pinned and nailed to the crossbeam.

View attachment 1486130

Excellent beautiful work Steve!

I just want to be there; just want to see hear smell and experience it all. As terrifying as it would be!

And if not as Leah-then as a devout elderly Jewish matron who bribes a few denarii to the vengeful guards to be allowed to offer Leah the relief of a drink of hyssop, myrrh, and wine, a bit of relief in the midst of her suffering~

 

[Steve]

The moment of impact …

Shoutout to @Wragg ’s great thread https://www.cruxforums.com/xf/threads/the-moment-of-impact.11233/

 

[Harsh Martinet]

The moment of impact …

Shoutout to @Wragg ’s great thread https://www.cruxforums.com/xf/threads/the-moment-of-impact.11233/

View attachment 1488371

Perhaps the most incredible depiction of the abject agony of being nailed a the cross I've ever seen!

 

[Aedile]

And if not as Leah-then as a devout elderly Jewish matron who bribes a few denarii to the vengeful guards to be allowed to offer Leah the relief of a drink of hyssop, myrrh, and wine, a bit of relief in the midst of her suffering~

“Where’s that old hag who always comes around every time we put a bitch up on a cross? She’s usually waiting here before the procession’s halfway here! Hey, there she is—you, old woman! Yes, you. You’re late today! No, no, no, stay there. You’ll have to wait until we raise the cross to give her that potion of yours. What’s that? It’s not my fault you’re late. You should apologize to this bitch when we let you up here. Just wait and I’ll tell you when you can approach her.”

 

[Crucified Life]

As part of my personal celebration of the 20th Anniversary of my PETRA series, I knew I had to do crux illustrations (obviously!). I committed to do something new and was inspired by @mp5stab ’s great thread and @Livia Crux Dove ’s intriguing fantasy. Here are a few illustrations from FALL OF THE TEMPLE. I’ll do more if there is interest.

The story -

It is 70 CE. General Titus and his Roman forces have breached the third and second walls of Jerusalem and launched their final assault on the Second Temple. The Antonia Fortress is the last line of defense for the Zealots guarding the Temple.

To buy the Zealots more time to mount a counter-offensive, a rebel commander named Leah bat Rafael and her small band of rebels launch a daring nighttime sortie on the unsuspecting Roman forces. They sabotage siege weaponry and engineering equipment, and kill many legionaries before they meet their end.

Leah is the rebel saboteurs’ sole survivor. Realizing that the Zealots need even more time, she surrenders to preoccupy the Romans until the morning. She is interrogated, ravaged, scourged, and crucified.

The sacrifice of Leah and her small band of rebels is not in vain. As she hangs on the cross, the Zealots have completed underground tunnels and set fire to the siege ramps along the walls of the Antonia Fortress, ultimately causing them to collapse.


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Will this "Fall of the Temple" series end up as a resource in the Archives section as an illustrated story?

 

[mp5stab]

holy shit