| EXPERIMENTAL
STUDIES in CRUCIFIXION:
Frederick T. Zugibe, M. D., Ph.D.
INTRODUCTION
In pursuing the truth in specialized areas of research, things are not always
what they seem to be. This is especially true in Shroud and crucifixion research
where the literature is badly contaminated by papers written by individuals who
have expertise in one area but publish and lecture outside their areas of
expertise and those well intentioned, ubiquitous dilettantes without any
expertise at all who dominate the field and publish and speculate in some or in
all areas of shroud research. The former reminds me of the derivation of the
word ultracrepidarian; Alexander the Great’s artist, Appeles was criticized by a
cobbler for the way he had drawn the latch of a sandal and Appeles immediately
corrected it. Then the cobbler went on to criticize the subjects legs. Appeles
snapped, “ Se supra crepidat judicaret” Let him not criticize above the sole. In
this regard, many misconceptions have pervaded the literature, ad infinitum
regarding the mechanism and cause of death by crucifixion, whether the palms
could support the weight of the crucarius and where the hands were nailed during
crucifixion. Despite our extensive suspension studies using sophisticated
techniques that showed that there was no difficulty in breathing during
suspension on the cross therefore precluding asphyxiation as the cause of death,
there is still wide propagation, “polly parrot” style of Barbet’s a priori
hypothesis that the crucarius had to rhythmically sag and straighten throughout
the whole period of crucifixion in order to expel the air from the lungs ( 1,
2). Moreover, recent journal articles, lectures and television documentaries
have repeatedly proclaimed Barbet’s hypothesis as fact that the palms of the
hands could not support the weight of a crucarius during crucifixion and that
the nails would tear right through the hands totally based on an invalidly
interpreted experiment conducted by Barbet. When I read the voluminous
literature based on Barbet’s sacrosanct speculations, I, sometimes wonder if I
am not committing a sacrilege when I question them.
full text of paper |
 Dr.
Zugibe and wife Catherine with Sister Lucia of Fatima on April 28, 2002 see
News
April 27, 2005 - Rockland County Medical Examiner's Complex named the
FREDERICK T. ZUGIBE FORENSIC SUITE
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