In this lengthy text, the following points are covered:
- The recognition of Jesus of Nazareth as one of history's greatest figures, with millions of followers.
- The attempt to reconstruct the physiognomy of Jesus based on a first-century skull.
- Limitations in such reconstructions, including skin color, eye color, and hair.
- Historical depictions of Jesus in art, including the "traditional" image with fair skin, blue eyes, and blond hair.
- Historical and ideological influences on the portrayal of Jesus, including the use of art for religious and political purposes.
- An examination of early Christian art, which initially avoided visual depictions of the cross and Christ's crucifixion.
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1. Jesus of Nazareth is considered a significant historical figure, even by those who do not identify as Christians. His impact is so great that it has led at least 2 million people to declare themselves as followers of his doctrine. [Document 1]
2. On March 27, 2001, the BBC published research into the physical appearance of Jesus of Nazareth. The research was conducted by Richa Nir, a renowned expert in facial reconstruction. [Document 1]
3. The research was based on the individual's skull, as no bones of Jesus have been found. [Document 1]
4. Some Israeli archaeologists suggested sending a skull from the first century taken from an ancient cemetery near Jerusalem to Nir. [Document 1]
5. Nir used tomography to provide three-dimensional images, which served as a basis for making a new skull with synthetic material. [Document 1]
6. The face of Christ's contemporary began to be outlined using layers of clay. [Document 1]
7. The reconstruction of Jesus' face was not similar to traditional figures and icons of Christianity, which was a difficult concept for many to accept. [Document 1]
8. The reconstruction of Jesus' face had limitations, such as issues with skin color, eyes, shape and size of hair, and certain outer cartilages, which were the result of the expert's imagination. [Document 1]
9. The characteristic features of the time made it difficult to physiognomically represent Jesus as tradition has composed him. [Document 1]
10. The face of Jesus, according to an ancient anonymous drawing, was a tall, well-shaped man with wine-colored hair, thin and long hands, and clear, placid, and bright eyes. [Document 1]
11. The document claiming to be the face of Christ portrayed according to the details collected from the public letter is doubted due to its authenticity. [Document 1]
12. The first Christians inherited from the Jews a great hesitation in making material representations of transcendent realities. [Document 1]
13. From the fourth century onwards, the features of Christ himself began to be explored more. [Document 1]
14. The skin color of Jesus Christ, who was a Semitic, was predominantly olive, with jet-black eyes and dark hair. [Document 1]
15. Jesus of Nazareth was a carpenter, which would have made his hands well calloused and his physique very muscular due to the physical effort required. [Document 1]
16. Jewish law prohibits men from trimming their facial hair, which would have resulted in a fuller and -trimmed beard compared to some artistic representations. [Document 1]