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Wine Mixed with Myrrh (Mark 15.23) and Crurifragium (John 19.31-32): Two Details of the Passion Narratives

Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 33, FIN-00014 Finlanderkki.koskenniemi{at}sley.fi

Kirsi Nisula

Dept of Ecology and Systematics, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, FIN-00014 Finlandkirsi.nisula{at}helsinki.fi

Jorma Toppari

Departments of Paediatrics and Physiology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520 Turku, Finlandjorma.toppari{at}utu.fi

This article deals with two details of the passion narratives: the wine mixed with myrrh (Mk 15.23) and the breaking of the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus (Jn 19.31-32). It is written jointly by a botanist (Kirsi Nisula), a physician (Jorma Toppari) and an exegete (Erkki Koskenniemi). Most scholars believe that the wine mixed with myrrh was used as analgesic and refer to b. Sanh. 43a. However, this passage does not deal with myrrh, which, moreover, has no strong analgesic effect. A small amount of myrrh in wine preserves it, but if it is used excessively, it makes the wine impossible to drink, and offering it to a man suffering from strong dehydration would be a form of torture. Breaking the legs was used widely as a deterrent punishment for the slaves, also without crucifixion, and it could lead to death. It was apparently common to break the legs of the crucified, which added to the deterrent effect, but also hurried their death.

Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Vol. 27, No. 4, 379-391 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0142064X05055745


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