The Cross of Munifex: The Private's Cross

The Cross of a Munifex is a historical fiction novelette (only 150 pages) of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ as told by two of the Roman legionaries. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the singular most important event in human history. For believing Christians, it is a means of redemption and for non believers, it is the offer of redemption. The Cross is open to all.The story has been told in many ways by many persons. Some that had firsthand knowledge of the events leading to and then the time of and ultimately after. Others tell the story in video and movie replications. They tell the story via Easter services and plays done on the stage. I don't have those skills of oratory, or of film or stage craft abilities to do such a story in a meaningful way. But I write pretty good historical fiction. The Cross of a Munifex is the story of the Crucifixion of Christ as told thru the eyes of two Roman Legionnaires, a Principali (Non Commissioned Officer) Emileigh and his aid, a Munifex (Private) Demicus. They were assigned by the Roman Officer in Charge to be with Christ from his arrest, trials, and crucifixion. Also they are part of the Roman guard detail that is at the tomb on the third day. They were selected because they had a unique skill. They both spoke Hebrew. What you will learn in this novelette, is how determined the Romans were to controlling and influencing the Jewish community at this time. Important to that control and influence was the Antonia Fortress that overlooked the Temple Mount. This was the Jerusalem base of the Legion of Palestine of the Roman Empire. From two of its towers the Roman legionaries would look into and listen to the events ongoing in the Temple Mount and Sanhedrin.Most of the Legion of Palestine's eleven Cohorts were based at the Antonia Fortress at any one time. It was a massive four tower structure, constructed some 60 years earlier, when Rome had conquered the Jewish nation of Herod. But Rome saw in the family of Herod, a means to control the Jewish community. So the Herod family is still in the figurative head power of the country. But behind the scenes Is the Roman empire that was governed by Poncious Pilote, the Provincial governor from Rome. His rule was backed by the military force of the Legion of Palestine. Only a year prior to the Crucifixion, he had called out the legion to control rioting in the streets of Jerusalem. The rioting was caused by the eleven Cohorts placing their standards, at the main street corners of the city. The Jewish community had seen the standards as false extensions of the 26 different Roman gods of stone and metal. The Cohorts standards and the Roman gods of metal and stone were the antithesis of the Jewish living god. On occasion, some of the Cohorts of the Legion of Palestine would leave the Antonia Fortress and the city, to engage Jewish rebels. Most often these expeditions would take them to the south and into the Sinai caves that David had used many years earlier.Into all of this comes Jesus Christ and his redemptive message of God's Kingdom just prior to the Jewish Passover. The story of what happens, as said earlier has been told as the greatest story many times in the past. But I know of no time, it was told through the eyes of Romans Legionnaires. When combined with its sister novelette, The Tears of David, we also have a look into the lives of young soldiers of these times. Soldiers that are surrounded by unfolding events that they don't fully grasp and understand. But are trying with integrity, honor and even courage to do so. In this, both novelettes were written for the men and women of the United States military post 911, that did not have the same experiences as these. But served the country with integrity, honor and courage.