No commentary on the brutality of Aethrlstan's crucifixion? This vivid and horrific scene frequently occurred throughout history.
Archaeological evidence
In 1968, archaeologists found the remains of a man who was crucified in the 1st century CE in Jerusalem. The remains included a heel bone with a nail driven through it.
In 2018, researchers found the remains of a man buried in northern Italy who died after being nailed to a wooden cross.
In 2017, archaeologists found the remains of a heel bone of a man with an iron nail through it in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
Historical records
Polybius, a Greek historian, wrote that Hannibal crucified Roman prisoners during the Second Punic War in the 3rd century BCE.
Josephus, a Jewish historian, wrote that Varus crucified 2,000 Jews after suppressing a revolt in Judea in 4 BCE.
Tacitus, a Roman historian, wrote that Nero crucified hundreds of Christians after blaming them for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 CE.
And more importantly to an innocent man for the redemption of sinful man:
Documentary evidence
Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian who wrote about Jesus in his 20-volume history of the Jewish people, Antiquities, around 93 A. D.
Tacitus connected Jesus to his execution by Pontius Pilate
Pliny the Younger wrote to Emperor Trajan that early Christians would "sing hymns to Christ as to a god"
Suetonius may have referenced Jesus in noting that Emperor Claudius expelled Jews from Rome
Archaeological evidence
Cave-tombs at Giv'at ha-Mivtar. Discovered in 1968, these tombs date from the late second century B. C. until
A. D. 70
The Martyrum. A church built by Constantine the first Christian emperor of Rome over the tomb of Jesus
Other evidence
Historical documents and archaeological artifacts appear to agree with Luke 3:1-2
The Testimonium Flavianum, a passage in Antiquities by Josephus, describes the condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus.
