Crucifixion and Jesus Crucifixion probably first began among the Persians. Alexander the Great introduced the practice to Egypt and Carthage, and the Romans appeared to have learned of it from the Carthaginans. Although the Romans did not invent crucifixion, they perfected it as a form of torture and capital punishment that was designed to produce a slow death with maximum pain and suffering. It was one of the most disgraceful and cruel methods of execution and it was usually reserved only for slaves, foreigners, revolutionaries, and the worst of criminals. Roman law usually protected Roman citizens from crucifixion, exce