Crucifixion is undoubtedly a powerful symbol. It's a ritual that non of us has experienced, and yet we all know.

Crucifixion is very central to the Christian faith. it's actually the very symbol of the Chrisyiam faith. But I would argue that it's even more central in One Piece, or at least it is more recurring.

And most crucially, the astonishing thing is that it always seems to represent the same thing.

The worst thing that can happen to the best person​

Crucifixion is a form of punishment through torture of suffering and public display of the ordeal.

As with most form of torture, is very clear why the experience is unpleasant. I find it hard to even describe the process without putting a facial expression of pain.

But there is another element that seems arbitrary, and yet it is recurrent in stories about crucifixion. It's the fact that the person being crucified is innocent. This comes in many forms, one of them being that the person being crucified chose to withstand that punishment in order to protect someone or something else.

So the image of a crucifixion is appalling, and also somewhat inspiring, because it portraits the goodness of a person, as well as the terrible suffering that they are withstanding due to their suffering.

Zoros crucifixion

As early as the first volume of One Piece, we encounter a character being crucified.