The guards to do this were butchers. They knew their trade well. Such inhuman deed was given a special name: crurifragium. It is a ghastly epithet to a rough occupation.
The Struggle to Breathe
The chest of an individual remains tight when the individual is suspended in a cross. They have to lift their body with the help of their feet in order to breathe air. Although they have their feet nailed down, they must push to live. It is excruciatingly painful, but that is the only means of maintaining the working of the lungs.
The Iron Hammer
At times the guards desired the day to be over. Perhaps they had been work-worn out, or they were on the eve of a holiday. They would then put a heavy iron hammer and crack the shinbones to complete the work in a short time.
After these legs were broken the man was unable to pull himself up any more. He would get slumping, and his lungs would cease action. He would not be able to raise his chest, and would choke. It was a swift and final end.
It Was Not Mercy
The Romans did not show this because they were nice. They were just concerned with speed and completing their work. The lungs do not work, the heart stops and the legs break. The show is over. The guards might then retire to their homes and drink their wine. It was yet another business day to them.
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