It was NOT a Roman invention....and do you think the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Phoenicians crucified as a form of massage or a Friday night date or for fun???
Man...you go to any length to not be so wrong when you are wrong!
I quoted this from the Guardian. You are free to disagree with the source if you so prefer
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/apr/08/thisweekssciencequestions