why was st peter crucified upside down?

Answer 1

Common teaching is he asked to be hung that way because he didn't want to die the same way Jesus did (like the Romans asked the condemned how they wanted to die.) However,

Hanging upside down caused excruciating headaches and was a better form of torture. Crucifiction was reserved for the most heinous of crimes and was meant as a warning for others, often with the body displayed for days. Instead of merely suffocating over two or three days, as in normal crucifiction, when you were hung upside down the end was quicker, but nastier. Instead of the blood draining to your feet it would pool in your face and upper body, causing major bloating and disfiguration, a better example to deter crime. Neat stuff.

Answer 2

I agree with Wide Awake. Cruxifiction in that day and time was the most dishonorable and horrid way for a man to die. It was done in the open for all the world to see and the shame was completely overwhelming. Peter was caught by the guards doing the work of the Lord and they threatened him with cruxifiction. He was not afraid and accepted with honor his fate - the same as his Lord's. That Redbud tree was large then. The soilders wanted to humiliate Peter even more and he died, not on a cross, but hung upside down on that tree. From past study, I have learned that the Redbud is no longer the same size it used to be - so that no man would ever have to die on that tree again.

Answer 3

Peter is believed to have been crucified upside down at his own request, as he did not feel worthy to die the same way as Jesus

Answer 4

St. Peter was tried by Ceasur himself. St. Peter like St. Paul was a roman citizen. Peter was told by Christ at the last supper that his death would be similiar to that of Christ's.

When his death came it was on Vatican Hill ironicly in or around the present location of St. Peter's Basilca in Rome, which rests atop Vatican Hill. Ancient Roman document have Peter's burial recorded along with the cause of death being Inverted Crucifixtion, the deathe penalty asigned Peter was crucifixtion as Our Lord was himself executed, but because Peter felt un-worthy of dying in the same position as His Lord, Master and friend had died, the soldiers adjusted the penalty...it mattered not to them which way Peter hung, but in this case, Peters death wish was granted...thus echoing back to the Last Supper telling peter that his death would be similiar but differant. Little did Ceaser know the power both Peter and Paul would have after thier death. The death of the "Big Fisherman" was monumental, but the amounts of christians in Rome multiplied daily...eventually as we know enjoying full recognition under Constantine.

Answer 5

Becuse everything that Jesus preached he turned it upside down it was a symbolic crucifiction. Only the people of that time knew the difference.It was so he can establish the church under false pretence if he preached what Jesus taught the crurch would not recieve tydes at a percentage along with following pagan rituals.

Answer 6

the apostle Peter chose to be crucified like that out of respect for the Savior

Answer 7

He felt that he had no right or honor to be crucified as was Jesus the messiah. So he asked them to crucify him upside down.

Answer 8

He was martyred for Christ and this was their way of being disgraceful to Christ. I don't think Peter had a "choice" of which way to be crucified. He did died for believing and following the teachings of Jesus.

Answer 9

I think because he didn't want to be crucified the same way Jesus was.

Answer 10

Because Jesus was crucifed rightside up, and St. Peter didn't think he was good enough to be crucifed like Jesus