No matter how long it has been since they were around, many historical figures live on in the form of paintings, sculptures, and portraits. However, these things are not always very accurate, as artists tend to flatter the subject! Modern technology has made it possible for us to see what they looked like. Are you ready to see what your history books did not show you?
King Tut
King Tut is the nickname people gave pharaoh King Tutankhamun, whose reign lasted from 1332 to 1323 BC back in the New Kingdom era of Egypt. A British archaeologist called Howard Carter found his tomb in 1922! It was completely intact and came with artifacts and treasures intended to accompany him in the afterlife. He only ruled for a decade before he passed away.
King Tut
What King Tut Really Looked Like
DNA studies were conducted on his mummy, and scientists learned that Tut had been suffering from a number of health problems. He was tall and frail but suffered from malaria, an infected broken leg, and a bone disorder! They also learned that he had a club foot because of inbreeding. It uncovered a number of things about is life. For one thing, this explained why he was always depicted sitting down!
What King Tut Really Looked Like
Emperor Nero
At the age of 17, Nero succeeded the throne of the Roman Emperor. He is the last one to do so in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. During his fifth year, he ordered the death of his mother and became more active in politics. Did you know that he was also a poet, musician, actor, and charioteer? People could not take him seriously because of this. He was hated by the middle and upper classes because he raised taxes to fund public and private works around the empire.
Emperor Nero
What Nero Really Looked Like
In 2019, artists from Spain worked on a lifelike rendering of this Roman Emperor. They based it on busts, descriptions, and drawings of Nero. They got his physical attributes right, down to his smirk and chinstrap. When a fire consumed Rome in 64 A.D., the emperor dressed and went up the roof to sing! Before he was killed, he announced, “What an artist dies in me!”
What Nero Really Looked Like
Nefertiti
Rumored to be a Thutmose creation, they found a stucco and limestone bust of Nefertiti in 1912. The sculpture suggested that the Egyptian queen was beautiful and boasted of defined facial attributes. However, 3D imaging revealed what she probably looked like when she was alive.
Nefertiti
What Nefertiti Really Looked Like
In 2018, Expedition Unknown turned to 3D imaging technology to map out the face of the mummy called “The Younger Lady”. Many believed it to be Nefertiti, although this had yet to be confirmed. They scanned the mummy and paleoartist Elisabeth Daynes spent 500 hours recreating the face on the bust, which had been based on historical images of Nefertiti. While the project seemingly confirms that “the Younger Lady” was truly Nefertiti, people debated about her skin color in the image!
What Nefertiti Really Looked Like
Robert The Bruce
Robert I, also known as Robert the Bruce, was the king of Scots whose reign lasted from 1306 until 1329. He led the independence of Scotland after his successful guerrilla war against England. In June 1314, he ended up victorious during the Battle of Bannockburn. However, Edward II refused to hand over the overlordship. The barons, earls, and people of Scotland took action by writing to Pope John XXII.
Robert The Bruce
What Robert The Bruce Really Looked Like
Even though the king of Scots has not been depicted in contemporary art, but the University of Glasglow made casts from a skull believed to belong to Robert the Bruce. Previously, artists only used word of mouth together with their imaginations to make his portraits and statues. With the use of legal evidence, archaeological finds, and Face Lab technology, researchers created his likeness! While Robert I was recognized as the king of Scotland, he passed away only five years later.
What Robert The Bruce Really Looked Like
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was a Roman politician and war general largely credited for the expansion of the Roman Empire. He made it past the Rhine River and the English Channel, ultimately invading Britain. He refused to step down from command, he returned to Roman Italy through Gaul. This led to a civil war. Although there are numerous sculptures of him, this realistic rendering in 2018 was priceless.
Julius Caesar
What Julius Caesar Really Looked Like
You will find a realistic bust of Julius Caesar at Leiden’s National Museum of Antiquities. The 3D reconstruction also relied on marble portraits of him. After he won the Roman civil war, he took over as a dictator and launched a number of social and political reforms. For one thing, he granted citizenship to those living in the farthest regions of the empire. He was murdered by members of the Senate in 44 B.C.
What Julius Caesar Really Looked Like
Cleopatra
Cleopatra had been the reigning monarch for nearly three decades. She was 18 when she took throne together with her 10-year-old brother Ptolemy XIII upon the death of their father. In 49 B.C., the advisors of her brothers ran her out of Egypt, although she got reinstated several years after this with the help of Julius Caesar. She also gave birth to Ptolemy Caesar, suspected to be the son of the Roman Emperor. Upon the death of Ptolemy XIV, her other brother, she ruled the land with her son.
Cleopatra
What Cleopatra Really Looked Like
Cleopatra was an incredible woman who could speak numerous languages. Even though she was co-regent, she was the dominant ruler. She was thought to be a beauty who used seduction skills to form alliances with the rulers of different empires. 3D artists used sculptures of her to find out the truth. If you saw the Elizabeth Taylor film, you might be surprised by her large nose and masculine features.
What Cleopatra Really Looked Like
Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth I was the ruler of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. The marriage was annulled upon the death of her mother, so she was an illegitimate child. She was only able to ascend the throne in 1558. There are numerous paintings of her, but a mixed media artist Mat Collishaw wanted to find out the truth in 2018.
Queen Elizabeth I
What Queen Elizabeth I Really Looked Like
He created a hyper realistic animatronic mask that had eyes that follow you around and a mouth that moves as if it speaks. There mask is attached to a mirror. It is now displayed at the Queen’s House, right across the Armada Portrait, which depicts a young Elizabeth even though she was 55 years old when it was made! Some people will tell you that she looks a lot like the portraits depicted her.
What Queen Elizabeth I Really Looked Like
William Shakespeare
A lot of people argue about what William Shakespeare looked like, but most agree that the Martin Droeshout engraving was the most accurate. The Bard sported facial hair despite a receding hairline. Professor Hildegard Hammerschmidt-Hummel found a death mask believed to be his in 1975. In the 19th century, they made death masks by pouring wax or plaster over the face of the deceased.
William Shakespeare
What William Shakespeare Really Looked Like
In 2010, Dr. Caroline Wilkinson of Dundee University used that death mask to create a rendering of his face. She used 3D imaging to map out his facial features. This rendering was the end result. Most agree that it looks like many of the interpretations! Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616 at 52 years old.
What William Shakespeare Really Looked Like
George Washington
George Washington was the first President of the United States. In power from 1789 to 1797, he was elected as president after he won the War for Independence with the Patriot forces. He was an important figure in the establishment of the federal government. You will find the face of this Founding Father just about everywhere, from the dollar bill to important government buildings. But is it accurate?
George Washington
What George Washington Really Looked Like
With the use of portraits and renderings, researchers were able to create a computer-generated image of Washington. In the end, it only showed us that the portraits did not lie! This photo is even realistic enough to show us the full head of hair on Washington, together with a five o’clock shadow. He died from sore throat complications on December 14, 1799 at the age of 67.
What George Washington Really Looked Like
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots was born Mary Stuart. Her reign lasted from 1542 until 1567. Her father died only a couple of days after she was born, so she was the queen at only six days old! Her mother eventually brought her to France to study the ways of the French court. She came back to Scotland in 1559.
Mary, Queen of Scots
What The Queen Of Scots Really Looked Like
Using paintings and drawings, Prof. Caroline Wilkinson created this 3D rendering of Mary the Queen of Scots. On top of that, she used biographical information to avoid stylized depictions. The rendering of Mary looks pretty spot-on, but there are still notable differences. Her nose is the feature they captured best.
What The Queen Of Scots Really Looked Like
Richard III
King Richard III had a reign that lasted from 1483 until 1485. The English king does not have the best reputation out there. In fact, Shakespeare even depicted this ruler as a tyrant who was eventually replaced by the Tudors. In 1485, Richard III led a charge against Henry Tudor and his army during the Battle of Bosworth. The demise of his clan came soon after this.
Richard III
What Richard III Really Looked Like
In 2012, it finally became possible to recreate his image. This was not a possibility for a long time because they lost his body after his death. A team of researchers investigated the matter and found his body below a parking lot. They exhumed the remains, which Dundee University researchers used to see what he looked like in the past. They used historical records since there are no realistic paintings of him.
What Richard III Really Looked Like
Meritamun
Meritamun means “beloved of the god Amun”. University of Melbourne researchers introduced her after going through the archives and finding her skull. The ancient Egypt queen somehow made it to another continent altogether! She was a Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Ramesses the Great and buried in the Valley of the Queens.
Meritamun
What Meritamun Really Looked Like
There was not much they learned about Meritamun since the skull was the only thing they had. It was important to get some information on her such as her age when she died. They believe she was 18 to 25 years old, but no one knew the cause of death. They learned that she liked sweets thanks to her tooth decay. This was right on the mark since Alexander the Great brought sugar to Egypt around that time.
What Meritamun Really Looked Like
Jesus Christ
Regardless of the religion you practice, you must have heard about Jesus Christ. This was the same guy who allegedly healed the blind, walked on water, made wine out of water, and rose from the dead. He gave up his life and then got crucified for the good of mankind. Did any of the depictions get him right?
Jesus Christ
What The Real Jesus Christ Might Have Looked Like
The Bible did not really describe what he looked like, although there is modern evidence that shows he did not look like the way he is portrayed. Researchers only used forensic anthropology since they have never found his body parts or skeletal remains. A team of archaeologists from Israel and scientists from the UK worked together to build this image. This must be more accurate than most portraits of him!
What The Real Jesus Christ Might Have Looked Like
The Lord Of Sipan
The Lord of Sipan was one of the Moche mummies discovered by Peruvian archaeologists in 1987. It was among the most significant discoveries of the 20th century. They found a lot of treasures with the body of this one, which made them think he was an important historical figure. How did they recreate him?
The Lord Of Sipan
What The Lord Of Sipan Really Looked Like
The forensic team did not have it easy because the skull broke from the pressure brought by the sediment when they excavated it. Luckily, it was possible to reconstruct all 96 pieces of the skull with the help of modern technology. Using photogrammetry, they managed to reconfigure it! This image was made by the Brazilian Team of Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Odontology.
What The Lord Of Sipan Really Looked Like
Saint Anthony
Born in 1195, the Portuguese Saint Antony made a lot of impact back in the day. He allegedly had the power to heal others! He was canonized into sainthood quickly. As a matter of fact, it was the second-fastest canonization in all of history. Just a year after his death, they declared him to be the saint of lost things.
Saint Anthony
What Saint Anthony Really Looked Like
They said that children started to cry in the streets and bells began to ring all by themselves. They exhumed his body three decades later, although researchers only had his jawbone and tongue for guidance. The Anthropology Museum at the University of St. Anthony of Padua had the help of a University of Sao Paolo 3-D designer for this facial recreation.
What Saint Anthony Really Looked Like
King Henry IV
King Henry IV, also known as “Henry the Great” or “Good King Henry,” started his reign in a pretty strange way. He was 19 years old when he assumed the title the King of Navarre. The months after this, he married. Protestants drove to the city to celebrate the union, but they were then met with the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. King Henry IV barely survived it and had to serve in the French Court.
King Henry IV
What King Henry IV Really Looked Like
Henry the Great reportedly survived no less than 12 assassination attempts! Researchers picked him for the project because he did not discriminate based on religion. The team who worked on this also worked on Robespierre: Philippe Froesch and Philippe Charlier. Unfortunately, Henry IV died during the 13th attempt on his life. He got stabbed with a dagger by a Catholic man.
What King Henry IV Really Looked Like
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Germany in 1685. He was a legendary composer who lived during the golden age of music. Early on, he was a musical prodigy on the organ. He primarily penned music for the church. A lot of people will agree that he was one of the most accomplished composers in history.
Johann Sebastian Bach
What Bach Really Looked Like
Dr. Caroline Wilkinson relied on a cast of his skull for the recreation process. This iconic composer had been buried in an unmarked grave. His remains nearly got lost in history! They only found them when they had to renovate the church where he rested. Without the skull, this would not have been possible.
What Bach Really Looked Like
Simón Bolívar
Simon Bolivar was an important political figure. This Venezuelan military leader led the revolution against Spain. Born into a wealthy family, he studied in Spain and joined the resistance. After Spain was invaded by France, they called him “El Libertador” or The Liberator in English. He died of tuberculosis.
Simón Bolívar
What Simón Bolívar Really Looked Like
Whoa, looks sure are deceiving. This could pass for a photo of a living human being! The forensic imagery team took a year to go through the historical documents, with some help from the Venezuelan government. It all paid off because they managed to create this representation of El Libertador! It looks considerably more pleasant to the eye than the portraits they made of him.
What Simón Bolívar Really Looked Like
Nicolaus Copernicus
Once upon a time, people thought that the Earth, not the sun, was the center of the universe. Copernicus was the one who led us in the right direction. Born in 1473, he created a heliocentric solar system model that withstood the test of time. Originally from Poland, he wandered all over Europe.
Nicolaus Copernicus
What Nicolaus Copernicus Really Looked Like
Old renditions of him do not do him any justice. He is often portrayed as a hollowed and gaunt man. With modern technology, they managed to show us what he looked like when he was still alive. However, Copernicus still looks rather miserable here. Maybe that is what all geniuses are like.
What Nicolaus Copernicus Really Looked Like
The Lady of Cao
Before 1990, researchers were already working on the excavation of the El Brujo region in Peru. In 2005, they uncovered a mummy they called Lady of Cao. She wore simple clothing, and they estimated her death at around 400. Experts believe she was a member of the Moche people, which meant she was around long before the Incas. They found artifacts with the mummy, so she was likely nobility.
The Lady of Cao
What The Lady Of Cao Really Looked Like
They brought her remains to a museum in El Brujo, where they kept her body in a climate-controlled room. You will only see her through a looking glass now. Even though they brought her back in a way, they still have no idea what her role in society was. They believe she died during her late twenties. One theory is that she was a human sacrifice.
What The Lady Of Cao Really Looked Like
St. Nicholas
Saint Nikolaos of Myra is better known as St. Nicholas. He was a Bishop from Turkey who was around during the 4th century. Back then, he was known to be a generous caregiver. Rumors say he left presents in the shoes that children left outside the house. It then evolved to our Christmas holiday tradition.
St. Nicholas
What St. Nicholas Really Looked Like
He went on to become the Santa Claus we now know, although he does not look anything like the bearded man that we are so familiar with. He was Turkish, so he was darker and more Middle Eastern than they would have us believe. Western people just assume that historical figures look like them!
What St. Nicholas Really Looked Like
Giovanni Battista Sidotti
Giovanni Battista Sidotti was born in 1668. He was an Apostolic missionary who traveled to Japan in a mission to spread Christianity. It was a dangerous task back then. He tried to disguise himself as a samurai but failed to pull it off. He was captured and then imprisoned until his death in 1714.
Giovanni Battista Sidotti
What Giovanni Battista Sidotti Really Looked Like
It was a good thing that they found his remains in relatively good condition. In 2014, they found his body during an excavation project that cost them more than 2 million yen. His remains allowed the team to create an accurate depiction of him. Even though the skull was damaged, forensic anthropologists got everything they needed. They said that it was very close to what he probably looked like!
What Giovanni Battista Sidotti Really Looked Like
The Mycenean “Griffin Warrior”
In 2015, they excavated a tomb that dated back to 1450 BC. They found an intact male skeleton that came with 14,000 objects such as jewelry and weapons. They also found an engraving that provided them some clues about the identity of this man. While they failed to identify him, they believe that he was a Mycenaean warrior or priest.
The Mycenean “Griffin Warrior”
What The Mycenean “Griffin Warrior” Might Have Looked Like
They estimated him to be around five foot five inches, which was pretty tall around that time. They also found combs in his tomb, which suggested that he had long hair. Tobias Houlton and Lynne Schepartz, physical anthropologists from the University of the Witwatersrand, relied on his skull to create this digital interpretation of his face. They believed that he had a prominent jaw and close-set eyes.
What The Mycenean “Griffin Warrior” Might Have Looked Like
Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri has become a household name as the author of The Divine Comedy. During the late Middle Ages, he was one of the most influential Italian poets. His book described the different aspects of both heaven and hell. Some of these things have become the canon in Christianity! He was also a respected philosopher back then. He died in 1321 at the age of 56.
Dante Alighieri
What Dante Alighieri Really Looked Like
Many portraits of the author look very similar, which is why there is a consensus on how he looked like. It helped with the CGI rendering of the poet. The result had the same stern face and hooked nose that you must have seen before. They created it by measuring his skull, which they discovered in 1920. However, it had bigger eyes, a rounded jaw, and a softer facial expression.
What Dante Alighieri Really Looked Like
Maximilien Robespierre
Maximilien Robespierre was a French lawyer and politician who was a main figure of the French Revolution. He advocated for religious tolerance, the abolition of slavery, universal manhood suffrage, and the abolition of celibacy. He had a big part in the establishment of the First French Republic and even got elected the deputy to the National Convention. He was a central figure during the “Reign of Terror”.
Maximilien Robespierre
What Maximilien Robespierre Really Looked Like
In 2013, forensic pathologist Philippe Charlier and facial reconstruction specialist Philippe Froesch teamed up to see what the poster boy of the French Revolution looked like. They had an artwork of him and two death masks, allegedly created by Madame Tussaud! He was executed on July 28, 1794.
What Maximilien Robespierre Really Looked Like
Mozart
Born in January 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer of the classical era. Even when he was young, people noticed his skills on the keyboard and violin. He composed and performed for royalty when he was just 5 years old! Over the years, he composed more than 600 works. His legacy lives on, but we did not need to tell you that. He died in December 1791.
Mozart
What Mozart Really Looked Like
After his death, they found his skull. Using his conserved head, Pierre-Francois Puech reconstructed his face. He has a distinctive face thanks to the poor bone rim protection on his eyes. This feature gave him a rather feminine look. He also had a short head, prominent cheekbones, blue eyes, and white hair.
What Mozart Really Looked Like
Ramses II
Ramses II is also known as Ramesses the Great. His reign lasted from 1279 to 1213 BC. He was the 3rd pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty in Egypt. Born in 1303 BC, this leader had 48 to 50 sons and 40 to 53 daughters. He died in 1213 BC at the age of 90. He is considered to be the greatest leader of the New Kingdom. You will find 5 monuments paying tribute to him in his home country.
Ramses II
What Ramses II Really Looked Like
When Ramses II died, they buried him in the Valley of the Kings. However, they eventually moved his body to a royal cache. Because of looting, they had to move his body, rewrap it, and place it in the tomb of Queen Ahmose Inhapy. Once more, they moved it to the tomb of priest Pinedjem II only 3 days later. The hieroglyphics on his coffin confirm the theory. They found his remains in 1881!
What Ramses II Really Looked Like
Tiberius
The reign of Tiberius lasted from 14 AD to 37 AD. The successor of Augustus, he was born to Livia Drusilla and Tiberius Claudius Nero. Officially, his birth name was Tiberius Claudius Nero. Born in November 42 BC, he was the second Roman emperor. He tied in Miseno on March 16, 37 AD. He once said, “In a free state there should be freedom of speech and thought”.
Tiberius
What Tiberius Really Looked Like
He died at the age of 78. However, no one can determine the cause of death. He was allegedly smothered to death by his own sheets, although they also said Caligula poisoned him. On the Palatine Hill in Rome is the Tiberius Palace. His wax figure shows that he had a distinct nose and bone structure.
What Tiberius Really Looked Like
Marcus Agrippa
Marcus Agrippa was a Roman statesman, general, architect, and consul who was born in 63 BC and died in 12 BC. He was the right-hand man and best friend of Emperor Augustus as well as the son-in-law of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. You will probably see the buildings he designed if you ever come to Rome. On top of that, he brought the empire victory during the Battle of Actium.
Marcus Agrippa
What Marcus Agrippa Really Looked Like
He died in Campania at the age of 51. Augustus honored him by holding a large mourning and funeral period that lasted more than a month. He also took care of his kids and took care of their education. Before his death, he already built a tomb for this eventually. They never used it since his remains went to the mausoleum of Augustus himself! This was what artists believe he looked like back in the day.
What Marcus Agrippa Really Looked Like
Huarmey Queen
The Huarmey Queen was an important figure in the Wari (Huari) culture of Peru. These people lived in the coastal areas of the Andes Mountains and the south-central Andes. She is, essentially, the same age as the Great Pyramid of Giza. Archaeologists unearthed her in the Ancash region, north of Lima. They placed her remains in El Castillo de Huarmey together with 57 noblewomen.
Huarmey Queen
What The Huarmey Queen Really Looked Like
Unlike the other reconstructions you will see here, the scientists gave her a physical form to make her look even more realistic. The mummies of the Huarmey Queen and the other noblewomen were found in a specific seated position in five-people rows. Like others here, the women got buried with cool artifacts!
What The Huarmey Queen Really Looked Like
Saint Zdislava Berka
Saint Zdislava Berka is a Catholic Church from Czechia. She was known as Havel of Markvartice, the wife of the Duke of Lemberk. She was one strict woman but also a generous one. She started a convent and got canonized as a saint on May 21, 1995. She was born in 1220 and died in Czechia in 1252.
Saint Zdislava Berka
What Saint Zdislava Berka Really Looked Like
Below, you can see a 2018 digital forensic reconstruction of her. It looks very real, doesn’t it? This is what virtual reconstructionists believe she looked like. Her remains allowed the project to happen. After all, her jaw structure and cheekbones gave them a lot of things to work with!
What Saint Zdislava Berka Really Looked Like
Trajan
Trajan was born in September 53 and died in August 117. He was the Roman emperor from 98 until his death. The Roman Senate called him optimus princeps, which means “the best ruler”. Many agree that he was among the most successful soldier-emperors in history! It was not easy to be the ruler during a great military expansion, after all. The empire achieved its maximum territorial extent then.
Trajan
What Trajan Really Looked Like
They used this marble bust to help them with the facial reconstruction. This bust was discovered by archaeologists, who believe it was made in 113 AD. They believe that the artist created it after seeing the emperor in person since it was of such high quality. The statue had been broken into more than 356 pieces. This did not hinder the reconstruction of his face, however.
What Trajan Really Looked Like
‘Ava’
Thanks to the horseshoe-shaped stone arrangement, scientists uncovered a site called Achavanich. In 1987, researchers managed to reconstruct the face of the woman they called “Ava”. Believed to be 18 to 22 years old, they found her remains on the site. Her remains date back to more than 3,700 years ago.
‘Ava’
What ‘Ava’ Really Looked Like
Archaeologists Hew Morrison and Maya Hoole work on the ‘Achavanich Beaker Burial Project’. They managed to learn many things about the Bronze Age with the facial reconstruction of Ava. Her DNA allowed them to have an idea of how women back then looked like! How cool is that?
What ‘Ava’ Really Looked Like
Otzi The Iceman
Otzi The Iceman was alive sometime from 3400 to 3100 BCE. This well-preserved mummy has also been called the Tyrolean Iceman, the Man from Hauslabjoch, the Similaun Man, and the Hauslabjoch mummy. They found him in September 1991 in the Ötztal Alps. He is the oldest natural human mummy found in Europe. You can find his remains and belongings at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.
Otzi The Iceman
What Otzi The Iceman Really Looked Like
The mummy gave us a glimpse into the Copper Age. His body was so intact because he was covered in ice for about 5,300 years. The naturalistic reconstruction of Otzi the Iceman would be impossible if he was not this well-preserved. It is amazing how much archaeologists and scientists could let us know!
What Otzi The Iceman Really Looked Like
Owain Glyndwr
Welsh rebel Owain Glyndwr had the goal of ending English rule in Wales back in the late Middle Ages. Born in 1359, he died in 1415. His rule started from 1404 and ended upon his death. If you have ever read the Shakespeare historical play Henry IV, Part 1, you might remember him as a wild and exotic king.
Owain Glyndwr
What Owain Glyndwr Really Looked Like
You should watch ‘The Face of Glyndwr’ to have an idea of the facial reconstruction process. They used CGI and 3D technology to bring Owain Glyndwr to life! The facial reconstructionists even said, “We have come as close as anyone ever will to finding out what the Welsh rebel actually looked like”.
What Owain Glyndwr Really Looked Like
Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson is probably the most famous American female poet. Born in Massachusetts in 1830, she died in 1886. She went to an all-girls school but was pretty isolated when she was young. She continued to live that way into adulthood. In 1890, people finally began to appreciate her poetry.
Emily Dickinson
What Emily Dickinson Really Looked Like
It is hard to imagine her today, but modern technology has made a lot of things impossible. Don’t you think that she looks as beautiful as her poetry? Even though she lived more than 100 years in the past, we found out what she looked like!
What Emily Dickinson Really Looked Like
Marie Antoinette
Born in 1755, Marie Antoinette was actually an Austrian Princess who went on to become the Queen of France. She was the last person to hold this position because the French Revolution came soon. She had a complicated life as a pawn in the chessboard that was Europe. She was known for her decadence.
Marie Antoinette
What Marie Antoinette Really Looked Like
With the help of technology, we also saw what Marie Antoinette looked like back then. While her glitzy gowns would be out of place now, we love them! This business-casual outfit is more suited to the times.
What Marie Antoinette Really Looked Like
Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley was an exhibition shooter and sharpshooter born in 1860. She died in 1926. She was just 15 years old when she showed off her talent by winning a match against Frank E. Butler. They later got married and entered the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. Her famous quote goes, “I ain’t afraid to love a man, I ain’t afraid to shoot him either”.
Annie Oakley
What Annie Oakley Really Looked Like
Who would have thought that Annie Oakley would be this beautiful? We are glad to know this tidbit. It would be impossible if we did not have the help of reconstructive artists! She was completely stunning.
What Annie Oakley Really Looked Like
What A 500 Year Old Dubliner Really Looked Like
In 2014, archaeologists discovered the remains of a man from 500 years ago. They found 4 other skeletons as well. They all had evidence of malnutrition and heavy manual labor. According to researchers, this pointed to a low socioeconomic status. They preserved the skull and got this.
What A 500 Year Old Dubliner Really Looked Like
Jane Of Jamestown
Jane was only a young girl when she died at the age of 14. She got eaten by her co-settlers in Jamestown. In 2012, they found her leg bones and skull in a cellar. She lived back in the 17th century, back when survival was tough for everyone.
Jane Of Jamestown
What Jane Of Jamestown Really Looked Like
Dr. Douglas Owsley is the chief forensic anthropologist at the National Museum of Natural History. He examined Jane and found cuts and marks that indicated attempts to separate bran and tissue from bone. Apparently, people in Jamestown starved during the winter of 1609.
What Jane Of Jamestown Really Looked Like
Mary Rose Archer
The Mary Rose warship went down in 1545 during an attack on the French. It belonged to the English Tudor navy under King Henry VIII. It was found nearly 500 years later! They discovered most of the crew members and examined the results. One of them was an archer.
Mary Rose Archer
What A Mary Rose Archer Really Looked Like
There were algae and organisms growing on those bodies, which made them hard to analyze. They still pulled it off! They identified a lot about the archer and concluded that he was 6 feet tall and wielded a long-bow. He has been brought back to life with the use of facial reconstruction and a 3D printer.
What A Mary Rose Archer Really Looked Like
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet who was born in 1759. He died in 1796 at the age of 37. We are sure you know his works like “Auld Lang Syne” and “The Battle of Sherramuir”. Researchers relied on his skull to reproduce his appearance back then.
Robert Burns
What Robert Burns Really Looked Like
The national poet of Scotland continues to be a celebrated writer. Researchers used facial reconstruction to see what he looked like in the past. It looks rather spot on, if you ask us. Good job, guys.
What Robert Burns Really Looked Like
What A Medieval Maiden From Edinburgh Really Looked Like
Forensic experts uncovered more than 400 medieval women, men, and kids at the South Leith Parish Church in Edinburgh. The bodies were excavated in 2009 to help the new train system of the country. The medieval woman was discovered in a communal grave, although it was hard to determine her relationship with the other people down there. Researchers believe they died of the plague.
What A Medieval Maiden From Edinburgh Really Looked Like
What A Beachy Head Lady Really Looked Like
Called Beachy Head Lady, they found a 3rd-century European Roman who they inspected closely. Afterward, they found out that she was a sub-Saharan African who lived in Eastbourne, the UK. Jo Seaman, a heritage officer, said, “Whether that means that she’s the first generation, we don’t know. She could possibly have been born in Africa and brought over here at a very young age, but it’s just as likely that she was born here.”
What A Beachy Head Lady Really Looked Like