GabyEarlier, HouseWife reported on the reproduction of appearance by an Egyptian-British team of scientists. Ramesses II in the prime of his strength. And now researchers led by Brazilian digital designer and reconstructor Cicero Moraes have shown the world what the remarkable ruler looked like shortly before his death.
To recreate the appearance of the elderly Ramses II, scientists used the mummified remains of the pharaoh. They also performed numerous procedures to create a detailed and as accurate an image as possible.
How was it?
Ramesses II, who ruled from 1279 to 1213 BC, was the most powerful pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Above all, he distinguished himself through his military exploits.
To reconstruct his appearance at the time of his death (when he was about 90 years old), researchers used a 3D model of his skull, overlaying it with soft tissues and skin. As a result, the team saw a frail elderly man with a weathered face, some features of which resembled those of the giant statues of Ramses II that still stand in Egypt.
According to Cicero Moraes, in their study, the team conducted a very thorough analysis, comparing the features of the reconstructed individual with the statues of Ramses II. It turned out that statues They present a somewhat inaccurate image of the pharaoh. In particular, they depict him with a thinner forehead, more expressive lips, and a chin.
To create the most accurate image, the scientists “also analyzed the anthropometric data and DNA of the ancient Egyptian population,” noted the project leader. The team chose the skin color of Ramses II based on what was depicted in the art of ancient Egyptians, as the true skin tone of the pharaoh was not known.
Researchers also utilized data from the 1976 study of the mummified remains of Ramses II, discovered in 1881. Scientists, in particular, learned that Ramses II He had a noticeable misaligned bite, and his teeth were significantly worn down. The pharaoh had bone problems and suffered from pain, the publication reported. Daily Mail Despite having lived a long life, at the end of it the ruler lost his memory, and very prominent veins appeared on his forehead, researchers reported.
The team also collected data from hundreds of modern Egyptians to determine the possible thickness of the pharaoh’s skin in different areas of his skull.
Another step involved working with anatomical deformation, during which the team used the face and skull of a living contemporary with a similar misalignment of the bite. Through digital manipulation, this data was “fitted” to the size of the pharaoh’s mummy.
Does this image resemble the previous reconstruction of the face of Ramses II?
Experts believe that the result resonates with the previous reconstruction of the pharaoh’s appearance mentioned at the beginning of the material.
The elderly Ramses II turned out to resemble the image of the pharaoh in middle age, created in 2022 by Professor Sahar Salim from Cairo University and Caroline Wilkinson, director of Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University.
Then the scientists also used a 3D model of the pharaoh’s skull. With the help of special software, they rejuvenated the ruler by almost half a century to show him to the world in his prime. As a result, they created a rather attractive man, noted Professor Salim.
“I believe that the reconstructed face belongs to a very handsome Egyptian with facial features characteristic of Ramses II, particularly with a prominently defined nose and jaw,” she said.
