# Jesus' Cross material **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 30, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717 "2003-09-30T16:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/1 "2003-09-30T16:39:10Z")
Looking for a factual answer on what type of wood was used for the cross Jesus was hung on. I’m also assuming that it was the same cross that he carried through town. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/2 "2003-09-30T17:04:03Z")
> **[Inspiredwoods.com - Anything About Kitchen Cooking & Food](https://inspiredwoods.com)** > > Anything About Kitchen Cooking & Food “This has been the subject of much debate and disagreement among historians, botanists, and Bible scholars. There are many legends, however there is very limited scriptural evidence to suggest what the wood may have been. There are some that believe that Olive Wood or Cedar of Lebanon was used, while others suggest that it was Cypress, Pine Wood, or Plane Wood. Some even suggest that perhaps Dogwood was used, however there aren’t any Biblical references to the Dogwood tree, only legends.” end quote ---
**Author:** ![lollipop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@lollipop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lollipop)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/3 "2003-09-30T17:27:49Z")
Olive seems most likely. Often individuals were crucified on boards nailed across entire olive trees. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/4 "2003-09-30T19:55:43Z")
“Nailed”? They didn’t use velcro? ---
**Author:** ![quothz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/da6949/32.png) [@quothz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quothz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/5 "2003-09-30T20:06:57Z")
Weren’t olive trees worth a few bucks in that region at that time? I question whether they’d chop down a tree worth good money to kill off criminals. Idly speculating, I think they’d use whatever was on hand. Does anyone know what sort of wood was generally used for building in the day? (Snarky side note: That inspiredwoods quote seems to suggest that if the Bible don’t say it, there’s no real answer. I’ve no objection to other sources.) ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/6 "2003-09-30T21:24:36Z")
And the wood might not have been of one type. The upright posts for crucifixion (One cross each, line on the left) were probably left in place at Golgotha. The prisoners were toting their own personal (recycled) crossbeams up the hill. Nobody wants to dig new holes for posts when you don’t have to. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/7 "2003-10-01T12:43:15Z")
In as much as dogwood trees aren’t indigenous to the Middle East, we can discount them. ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/8 "2003-10-01T12:59:34Z")
Wormwood ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/9 "2003-10-01T14:25:00Z")
Hmmmm, how did the dogwood thing get started? Because that’s immediately what I thought of when I read the title, but I have no idea why. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/10 "2003-10-01T14:43:30Z")
So, I’ve dug around a lot since yesterday and have attempted to find another cite that has some valid information regarding this OP. Sorry, no luck so far. There are lots of sites that quote the “legend of the Dogwood”…I’m not buying it. A couple of sources which seemed to be unbiased say that either Sycamore or Oak was used. My own opinion, it could have been anything, probably whatever was handy and the least trouble. Since cedars are fairly abundant, easily worked, and are usually straight, makes the most sense to me. A couple of large cedar posts hewn on each side for a beam would make for an easy, strong crucifix. (plus cedar is not too heavy) can you imagine the weight if it was a hardwood. As scarce as good wood is there, I doubt they would have used any valuable lumber either. It would be worth more as fuel than it would be wasted on convicts. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/11 "2003-10-01T15:01:58Z")
Has it been absolutely concluded that there even _was_ a crosspiece? - I’m sure I’ve heard quite strong arguments to the effect that it could have been more or less just a vertical post. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/12 "2003-10-01T15:15:31Z")
I’m going to attempt this without cites. The Dogwood is a flowering tree that blooms in the early spring. It was at one time a pagan symbol of worship. Legend has it that the Dogwood was used for Jesus cross. Supposedly the tree was larger at that time. But in it’s horror of the crucifixion it vowed to never grow large again. The flower supposedly looks like a cross in honor of Jesus and blooms at Easter as well. ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/13 "2003-10-01T15:19:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spogga \* > \*\*Wormwood \*\* 😛 ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/14 "2003-10-01T15:27:17Z")
**Mangetout** many folks will argue was there even a Jesus. Whether there was is not proven fact either way. It is fact that the Romans did crucify people then. There were a number of designs of crosses that were used. Most did include a cross piece. I think the term crucifixion itself implies there was. If you accept the New Testament as proof of either, then I would say yes there probably was. ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-cross-material/204717/15 "2003-10-01T16:15:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by t-keela \* > \*\*I’m going to attempt this without cites. The Dogwood is a flowering tree that blooms in the early spring. It was at one time a pagan symbol of worship. Legend has it that the Dogwood was used for Jesus cross. Supposedly the tree was larger at that time. But in it’s horror of the crucifixion it vowed to never grow large again. > > The flower supposedly looks like a cross in honor of Jesus and blooms at Easter as well. \*\* As **plnnr** indicates, the [range of the flowering dogwood](http://www.treeguide.com/Species.asp?Region=NorthAmerican&SpeciesID=312) _Cornus florida_ is limited to Eastern North America. > [@](#): > > Species Distribution > Range: Eastern Deciduous Forest except in far north. s. Ontario, Michigan, s. Maine to n Florida, w to Texas, Missouri Other members of the [Cornaceae family](http://www.treeguide.com/family.asp?FamilyID=84&Region=NorthAmerican) (which contains dogwoods, some tupelos, and a few others) are distributed throughout the temparate regions of the globe. Of these, _Cornus sanguinea_, [the bloodtwig dogwood](http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_profile.cgi?symbol=COSA81) comes closest to ancient Palestine, ranging through modern Turkey. It does not, however, have the [cross-shaped flowers](http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/angio/images/bent505.jpg) specified by the legend (the floral clusters of the bloodtwig dogwood are illustrated in the center; please ignore the fly ahown above). In short, there is no botanical support for the legend. The legend is just a nice Easter story, specific to the Eastern US. For instance, my European relatives never heard of the story, although other dogwoods exist in their area.