(Luke 23: 26-43)
Crucifixion was a common form of punishment throughout the ancient world. It was used originally by the Persians, Indians and the Assyrians and later adopted by the Greeks and the Romans. The Romans reserved crucifixion typically for the lower class, slaves, robbers, assassins, and revolutionaries. In the Roman world, crucifixion included a flogging with a leather whip loaded with metal or bone. After the flogging, the victims would then carry a crossbeam to the place of crucifixion, where they were nailed or bound to the cross, naked, with arms extended, raised up and perhaps seated on a sedicula, or small wooden peg.

The gruesome act of crucifixion damaged no organs and the nails were placed between blood vessels so that loss of blood was minimal. Therefore, death came very slowly, usually through hunger or asphyxiation due to muscle fatigue, except when the soldiers hurried the process by breaking the legs. While hanging upon a cross, the person was subject to ridicule and, after death, was often denied burial so as to serve as food for the birds and a negative example for all others in the community.
(Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels., Eds. I.H. Marshall, Joel B. Green, Scot McKnight, s.v. "Death of Jesus", InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, 1992.)

In Jesus' case, His crucifixion was totally unjust. He had committed no crime and yet was subjected to the cruelest of punishments. For a Jew to be crucified was not only horrible from the standpoint of pain and suffering, but Deuteronomy 21:23 says "He that is hanged is accursed of God."

After the semblance of a trial before Herod, Jesus was sent back to Pilate who once again contended that Jesus had done nothing to warrant death. Neither Herod nor Pilate had wanted to crucify Jesus but the chief priests, rulers, and the people continued to cry out "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate gave in to their demands and Jesus was led away to be crucified.

Crucifixion took place outside of the city, and in Jesus' case it was at a place called "The Skull." Criminals generally carried their own crosses or crossbeams but, in Jesus' case, partway there they seized a man named Simon from Cyrene to carry the cross for Him.

Jesus was also subjected to undue ridicule and even the soldiers joined in when they placed a sign above His head. It explained the accusation against Jesus which was not uncommon for this day. The sign was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin (John 19:20). The statement said something like "This is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews."
(When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook On Bible Difficulties , Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, Victor Books, Wheaton, 1992.)

Artifacts That Tie Into the Scene

In 1968, skeletal remains of a crucified person were unearthed from a tomb in Jerusalem dating back to the first century. Two heel bones of the victim were still connected by a nail 5.5 inches long.
(International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, s.v. "cross." Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979.)