In recent years, historians have put forth an intriguing perspective, suggesting that Saint Nicholas, the beloved figure associated with Christmas, may have had a distinctive appearance. They propose that the “real Santa Claus” likely possessed olive skin, giving him a Mediterranean complexion, and sported a broken nose.
These intriguing attributes align with the depictions found in medieval Eastern Orthodox murals, providing a new lens through which to envision this iconic character. A remarkable testament to the historical reverence for Saint Nicholas is a magnificent life-size statue that can be traced back to the 16th century, and originates from German descent.
A Face of Music
Now Bach, sadly, was buried in an unmarked grave when he passed away, which meant his remains were almost nearly lost to the annals of history. 150 years after his burial, the church where Bach was supposedly buried, was desperately in need of repair. Theologians and music historians quickly thought to try and find Bach amidst the renovations and exhumed a number of graves.
One of which, they believed to contain the body of the famed composer. Now that’s slightly creepy but, there is a certain… harmony in it all! Luckily for us, we don't need Bach's actual remains exhumed to get a glimpse of what the ionic composer may have looked like. Just head to the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Berlin to see this masterful recreation. He may not have an angel face, but he sure produced some heavenly music!
Saint Nicholas
Also known as Nicholas of Bari, this old Christian bishop was a real giver. It's no secret that Coca-Cola based an entire campaign on him that would later become the symbol of Christmas. Yes, Santa Claus was modeled on Saint Nicholas, and truth be told, the red and white burly 'Father Christmas' doesn't look that different from the original guy.
He was also famous for giving gifts to the people and during his lifetime, it is said that a series of miracles and wonderment occurred. There are many paintings of St, Nicholas. In many of them, he dons the iconic red and white robe, and of course, he has a big white beard.
Lady of Cao
Lady of Cao is the name of a woman who came from the Moche civilization that resided in Northern Peru. The Moche people are believed to have lived from about 100 to 700 AD during the Regional Development Epoch (Pre-Columbian Peru). The mummy was discovered at the El Brujo archaeological site which is over 40 km north of Trujillo.
The discovery team of Peruvian archaeologists was led by Regulo Franco Jordan of the National Cultural Institute of Peru. The mummy was found to be covered in tattoos and wrapped in several layers of cloth. Buried alongside her were a number of ceremonial objects, jewelry, and weapons. She was discovered in 2006.
Cao Re-imagined
On July 3, 2017, Peru's Ministry of Culture, culture officials, and archaeologists presented a replica of what would be the original face of the Lady of Cao. Experts used a combination of 3D imaging technology and forensic technology. Referencing her skull structure the process took roughly 10 months to create.
Now that we can look into the face of Lady Cao, it's a wonder to imagine her life. While we experts don't know a whole lot, a modern autopsy indicated that she died in her mid-twenties. Her death was most likely linked to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. The estimated date of death for the Lady of Cao is about 450 CE.