At one point early in Julius Caesar’s political career, feelings ran
so high against him that he thought it best to leave Rome. He sailed
for the Aegean island of Rhodes, but en route the ship was attacked
by pirates and Caesar was captured. The pirates demanded a
ransom of 12,000 gold pieces, and Caesar’s staff was sent away to
arrange the payment. Caesar spent almost 40 days with his captors,
jokingly telling the pirates on several occasions that he would
someday capture and crucify them to a man. The kidnappers were
greatly amused, but when the ransom was paid and Caesar was
freed, the first thing he did was gather a fleet and pursue the
pirates. They were captured and crucified ... to a man! Such was
the Romans’ attitude toward crucifixion. It was to be reserved for
the worst of criminals, a means of showing extreme contempt for
the condemned. The suffering and humiliation of a Roman
crucifixion were unequaled (Today in the Word, November 23,
1992).