Bone and Flesh

Dave Smith

It happened that when Grandmother died only the nurse was with her. She said that just before Grandmother died she lifted herself up a little from the pillow so that she seemed to be looking for someone, and then peacefully lay back again and died. (Franz Kafka, Diaries, 1914)

Examples

(Example 6)

(Example 7)

(Example 8)

(Example 9)

(Example10)

(Example11)

(Example12)

(Example13)

(Example14)

(Examples 1 to 5 can be found at /seconds, issue 08, 2008 'Morphology of the Crucifixion')

Data

FUNCTION I. THE CROSS SECURED IN THE GROUND. (Definition: penetration. Designation: A.)

1. Supported by buttress (A1). A thick branch cut to the correct length and angle and nailed to the base of the cross (1).

2. Wedged (A2). A stake(s) driven down between the cross and the ground (1,3,5,7&10). Cut wedges driven down between the cross and the ground (2). Sticks (or bones) pushed down between the cross and the ground (4).

FUNCTION II. BUILDINGS, SETTLEMENTS, CITIES IN THE BACKGROUND OR HOUSING THE CROSS. (Definition: architecture. Designation: B.)

1. City (B2). Visible in far distance (1)

2. Building(s) (B2). Visible in the middle distance (2,4,6&7). Far distance (8).

3. Viaduct (B3). Visible in the middle distance (2).

FUNCTION III. HOW CHRIST IS ATTACHED TO THE CROSS. (Definition: fixing. Designation: C.)

1. Nailed to the cross (C1). One nail through each foot and each hand (1,6,7,8&13). One nail through both feet and each hand (2,4,5,10,11,&12). One nail through both feet and each wrist (3). One nail through both feet and into footrest and each hand (4). One nail through each foot and into a footrest and each hand (9&14).

FUNCTION IV. PERIPHERAL FIGURES (HUMAN OR ANIMAL) INTERACTING WITH CHRIST OR IN THE VICINITY. (Definition: attendants. Designation: D.)

1. Interacting with (assisting or hindering) Christ (D1). "Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink." Matthew 27:48 "Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, 'Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'" Mark 15:36 "The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine" Luke 23:36 "A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth." John 19:29 (1&10). "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." John 19:34 (8).

2. Embracing the cross (D2). Kneeling down, arms wrapped around the base of the cross beneath Christ (5&7). Standing, arms wrapped around the base of the cross beneath Christ (10).

3. Criminals (D3). "Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him." Luke 23:32 "At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left." Matthew 27:38 "They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left." Mark 15:27 "There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between." John 19:18 (8).

4. Hands (D4). Clasped (4,6&11). Fingers entwined, palms down (5,7&8)

FUNCTION V. THE INSCRIPTION ATTACHED TO THE CROSS. (Definition: titulus. Designation: E.)

"And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, 'THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.'" Matthew 27:37 "The inscription of the charge against Him read, 'THE KING OF THE JEWS.'" Mark 15:26 "Now there was also an inscription above Him, 'THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.'" Luke 23:38 "Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, 'JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.'" John 19:19

1. Parchment attached to the cross (E1). One corner folded over (1). Bottom edge curling upwards (2,8,10&12). Crumpled and bottom edge curling upwards (3). Text written in precise lettering (5). Blank (6).

2. Board (E2). Text written in precise lettering (9). Blank (13). Faint (14).

FUNCTION VI. OBJECTS IN THE VICINITY OF THE CROSS. (Definition: ephemera. Designation: F.)

1. Skull(s) (F1). Lay on its side in front of the cross (1&10). To right of, and slightly behind the cross (2). Two or three (broken) scattered behind the cross (4).

2. Nails (F2). Three nails scattered on the ground (1).

3. Case (F3). Discarded on the ground (1).

4. Rope (F4). Discarded on the ground (1).

5. Bones (F5). Scattered around the base of the cross (4).

6. Ladders (F6). Lent up against criminal's cross (8).

FUNCTION VII. METEOROLOGICAL AND ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA. (Definition: celestial. Designation: G.)

1. Sky (G1). Thunderclouds (2,3,6,8&10). Calm sky (4).

FUNCTION VIII. CHRIST'S GARB, ADORNMENTS AND GROOMING. (Definition: appearance. Designation: H.)

1. Loincloth (H1). Billowing (1).

2. Crown of thorns (H2). "And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head" Matthew 27:29 "They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him" Mark 15:17 "And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him" John 19:2 (1,2,5,7,8,9&11).

3. Head wear other than crown of thorns (H3). Rope headband (4).

4. Beard (1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14).

FUNCTION IX. CHRIST'S PHYSIOLOGY, DEMEANOUR AND EXPRESSION. (Definition: bearing. Designation: I.)

1. Eyes (I1). Looking upwards (1,6&14).

2. body (I2). 'T' position (4&5). 'Y' position (1,3,6,7,8,9,10,12,13&14). Betwixt 'T' and 'Y' positions (2,5&11).

3. Build (I3). Slight (4). Average 1,2,5,6,9,11&14). Muscular (3,7,8,10&13).

4. Facial expression (I4). Pained (4). Serene (2). Frightened (6).

5. Hands (I5). Clenched (4). Open (2,3,5&6).

6. Head (I6). Slumped back (3). Forward (7,8,9,12&13).

7. Feet (I7). Separated (1,6,7,8,9,13&14). Crossed (2,3,4,5,10,11&12).

FUNCTION X. THE TYPE, ATTRIBUTES, ADORNMENTS ETC. OF THE CROSS. (Definition: crux. Designation: J.)

1. Material (J1). Rough sawn wood (1,3,5,7,8,10,12&13). Planed wood (2,4,6,9&11).

2. Shape (J2). 'T' (1,8&10). ' ' (2,3,4,5,6,7,9,11,12,13&14).

3. Additional object(s) (J3). Olive tree atop the cross (11).

FUNCTION XI. SUPERNATURAL OCCURRENCES. (Definition: miraculous. Designation: K.)

1. Angels (k1). Flying in the sky (1&10).

2. Around Christ's head (K2). Emitting light (1,5,6,8&9). Strong shafts of light (3&10). Defined halo (4&11).