Jesus’s crucifixion is one of the most famous images in history, with countless films, books and paintings having depicted the scene. Consistently, Jesus is shown as having been nailed to cross. But as Good Friday approaches, one scholar has asked why that is it. Meredith J C Warren, lecturer in biblical and religious studies at University of Sheffield, says that little evidence exists to back it.

In an article for The Conversation, she writes that “since the evidence from antiquity doesn’t provide a clear answer as to whether Jesus was nailed or tied to his cross, it’s tradition that dictates this common depiction.” “Those who have seen the film The Passion of the Christ will recall how much time the director, Mel Gibson, devoted just to the act of nailing Jesus onto the cross – almost five whole minutes. READ MORE


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