In our quest to learn about the appearance of people from ancient times, computer-assisted reconstructions of their faces have gained popularity. For instance, in 2020, a digital artist used artificial intelligence technology to recreate the faces of Roman emperors in a photo-realistic manner.
Facial reconstructions can be done by adding realistic skin, eyes, and hair to Greek or Roman busts. However, other methods can be more complex. One notable example of facial reconstruction is the case of Hermione Grammatike, a teacher who died in Egypt in the early 1st century CE. Her ancient portrait and skeleton were preserved with her mummy, allowing researchers to compare the skeletal remains with the portrait. In 1997, British Museum researchers used CT scans to create a 3D image of Hermione’s face. They reconstructed the surface of her face using the skull and referred to the coffin portrait for additional details. Despite the rigorous methods used, there are still uncertainties in facial reconstruction as the skull alone does not provide enough information to determine the facial surface accurately.
However, advancements in DNA extraction and analysis have made facial reconstructions more reliable. These techniques help determine the correct colors of hair, skin, and eyes.
When it comes to ancient portraits, there can be discrepancies between the artwork and literary descriptions of people’s appearances. For example, ancient texts describe the philosopher Aristotle as bald or with short hair and a short beard, while busts of him show a full beard and plenty of hair. This raises the question of which source of information is more reliable. Some ancient portraits must have been accurate depictions, as evidenced by a Greek poem from the 1st century CE that describes a boxer whose disfigurement caused him to no longer resemble his official portrait. In a legal dispute over their father’s inheritance, the boxer’s brother used the portrait as evidence to deny his brother’s identity.
Ancient and modern people share a fascination with seeing historic faces. In 39 BCE, the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro published a collection of famous people’s portraits to preserve their likenesses. This collection included 700 portraits accompanied by epigrams and brief biographies.
While reconstructions of ancient faces can be enjoyed, it is important to consider their limitations. Ancient portraits and busts may not always be reliable, making reconstructions based on them uncertain. Additionally, reconstructions based on skulls have their limitations, although the accuracy of this method is improving. Therefore, it is wise to exercise caution when viewing reconstructions and not assume they are exact replicas of ancient individuals.
