While the lovers were celebrating on February 14, in the meantime, scientists diligently modeled the face of the most real Saint Valentine - the patron saint of all lovers. By 3D scanning the remains of the alleged saint's skull, experts were able to recreate his appearance.
It became known what Saint Valentine really looked like. With the help of a 3D scan of the remains of his skull, scientists were able to make a reconstruction of the appearance of the patron saint of all lovers.
Saint Valentine's life is shrouded in mysticism, and not much information is known about him. It is believed that the Italian priest Valentine was executed on February 14 in 269 AD for secretly marrying soldiers who were not allowed to marry with their beloved. The skull that belonged to the alleged Saint Valentine is kept in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome.
The remains of St. Valentine, kept in the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
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Brazilian graphic designer Cicero Moraes recently reconstructed Valentine's face using 3D skull scans taken by a team of archaeologists at the University of Padua, Italy last year.
Using radiocarbon dating, researchers from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Padu discovered that the skull belonged to a young man who lived between 119 and 338 AD, which coincides with the lifetime of the alleged Saint Valentine.
The work began with the results of a skull scan. The skull, kept in a Roman basilica, is perfectly preserved, allowing an expert to easily determine the location of facial features. First, markers of muscle depth were placed on the skull model.
Then Moraes worked the facial muscles in stages, and did the same procedure with the body.
Then the specialist proceeded to detail, adding skin, eyelashes, facial hair.
The reconstruction ends with the addition of fine details and wrinkles. When reconstructing the face, the specialist was guided by historical facts and the age of the saint at the time of his death. It took him about a week to complete the entire reconstruction.
Completing the Valentine's look, Mr. Moraes dyed his skin and added clothing appropriate for the era.
This is the result. Of course, 100% similarity to the original is not guaranteed with this reconstruction. Although Valentine is usually portrayed as an older man, according to the results of the reconstruction, he turned out to be relatively young.