- σκέλος
- σκέλος, ους, τό (Hom.+; ins, pap, LXX, EpArist, Philo; Jos., Ant. 3, 271) leg καταγνύναι τὰ ς. break the legs, of the breaking of leg-bones as a punishment, known in late Lat. as crurifragium (s. TLL s.v.). Orig. this was a separate form of capital punishment, comparable to torture on a wheel (s. κατάγνυμι and KKohler, Das Verbot d. Knochenzerbrechens: ARW 13, 1910, 153f; a servile punishment fr. at least II B.C. [Plautus, As. 474 et al.]) Phlm subscr.—J 19:31–33 it accompanied crucifixion, in order to hasten death (s. also Appian, Bell. Civ. 4, 44 §189 ἑνὸς τὸ σκέλος συντριβέντοσ= one [of the bearers] broke his leg).—GBarton, ‘A Bone of Him Shall Not Be Broken’ J 19:36: JBL 49, 1930, 13–19; SHarrison, Cicero and ‘crurifragium’: ClQ n.s. 33, ’83, 453–55.—B. 241. DELG. M-M.
Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά παλαιοχριστιανική Λογοτεχνία. 2015.