Regarding the various calls that it should really be the CEO who gets executed, I'd wager those ancient bridge builders probably were the "CEO" of the relevant

Regarding the various calls that it should really be the CEO who gets executed, I'd wager those ancient bridge builders probably were the "CEO" of the relevant bridge building operation. Specifically, they probably managed substantial funds obtained from some Royal and had plenty opportunity to trade-off between personal profit and structural integrity. Calls to transfer the idea to today's lowly programmer drone would be akin to ancient bridge builder absconding with substantial extra profit after convincing his Royal that it really should be the bricklaying crew who should line up under the bridge.