The face of the character that inspired the image of Santa Claus has been revealed for the first time after nearly 1,700 years, following scientists’ reconstruction of his likeness from a skull.
Saint Nicholas in Myra is a famous Christian saint known for his generosity and for giving gifts to the poor. This saint inspired the Dutch folklore figure Sinterklaas, which later became known as Santa Claus in the United States.
In England, this legendary figure is called Father Christmas, often associated with feasts and games, and has become a beloved character for children today.
However, there are no descriptions of this legendary figure. Most of the descriptions of Santa Claus appeared many centuries after Saint Nicholas died in 343 AD.
The face of Saint Nicholas in Myra. (Photo: Cicero Moraes/Pen News).
Recently, the most authentic face of this character has been disclosed for the first time since the late Roman Empire, after forensic experts reconstructed his features from the skull.
Mr. Moraes, the lead author of the new study, stated that Santa Claus has a face that reflects a strong personality yet is also gentle.
“The skull is very large, indicating a face with a strong personality, as the width of the skull is above average. This feature, combined with a thick beard, is reminiscent of the image we think of when mentioning Santa Claus,” Mr. Moraes said.
To recreate the face of Saint Nicholas, Mr. Moraes and his team used data collected by researcher Luigi Martino in the 1950s, with the permission of the Nicolaiani Research Center.
Mr. Moraes remarked, “Initially, we reconstructed the skull in 3D using this data. Then, we tracked the shape of the face using statistical projections. We supplemented with anatomical deformation techniques, where the CT scans of a living person were adjusted to align with the skull of this saint. The final face was an interpolation of all this information, seeking anatomical and statistical consistency.”
The result was that scientists created two sets of images: one objective in grayscale and a more artistic image that included features like a beard and clothing, inspired by the symbols of Saint Nicholas.
Notably, the remains of Saint Nicholas revealed more than just his face.
Mr. Moraes noted, “It is clear that he suffered from severe chronic arthritis in the spine and pelvis, and his skull shows thickened bones that could have caused frequent headaches. Based on this information, it can be inferred that his diet was mainly plant-based.”
Mr. José Luís Lira, co-author of the study and an expert on the lives of saints, described the significance of Saint Nicholas of Myra. During his lifetime, Saint Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra, now in Turkey.
“Saint Nicholas was a bishop who lived in the early centuries of Christianity. He courageously defended and lived by the teachings of Jesus Christ, even at the risk of his own life. He challenged authorities, including the Roman Emperor, for this choice. The memory of Saint Nicholas is not only popular among Christians but also among everyone,” he stated.
The remains of Saint Nicholas were initially buried in Myra, and later his bones were transferred to Bari, Italy, where they are kept to this day.
Mr. Moraes explained that the Santa Claus symbol we know today is based on an illustration by Thomas Nast for Harper’s Weekly magazine in early 1863. This symbol was inspired by descriptions in the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1823.
This poem sketches many popular images of the folk character we recognize today – including rosy cheeks, a reindeer, a sleigh, a bag of toys, and the large face described earlier.
Mr. Moraes, Dr. Lira, and co-author Thiago Beaini published this new research in the journal OrtogOnLineMag.
