The mystery surrounding the Shroud of Turin has taken a twist as a new study claims it was not touched by Jesus.
The artefact kept in Turin, Italy, is symbolically important to those of the Christian faith, as it is said to have been wrapped around the body of Christ after his crucifixion.
Although it has faint markings believed by religious folk to be impressions of Jesus’s body and face, the shroud only dates back to the 14th century – long after the prophet’s death. This has led many to view it as nothing more than a faked image of Jesus.
In fact, a new study supports such views by saying that the artefact’s impressions could not have been left by a human body.
Instead, a bas-relief – a sculptural technique that involves shallow carvings – is a far more likely cause.
Cicero Moraes, a Brazilian graphics expert and author of the new study, built a virtual simulation that replicated the famous shroud using virtual fabric.
By laying the virtual fabric flat on a body similar to that of Christ, a ‘distorted and significantly more robust image’ was created compared to the original shroud. The bas-relief, however, created an impression similar to the actual artefact.
Speaking about the study’s findings, Moraes said: ‘The explanation of the differences is very simple.
‘When you wrap a 3D object with a fabric, and that object leaves a pattern like blood stains, these stains generate a more robust and more deformed structure in relation to the source.
‘So, roughly speaking, what we see as a result of printing stains from a human body would be a more swollen and distorted version of it, not an image that looks like a photocopy.
‘A bas-relief, however, wouldn’t cause the image to deform, resulting in a figure that resembles a photocopy of the body.’
The virtual impression conducted by Moraes differs significantly from the real artefact. The head and toes are inconsistent with the actual image and much of the human body has not been captured
The impression left by the bas-relief, however, looks for more consistent with the actual shroud.
Moraes has compared his findings to the mask of Agamemnon, a gold death mask cast from the face of the ancient Mycenaean king.
The graphics expert said the apparent distortion of the king’s face in the mask makes sense when considering the techniques used to make it.
He said: ‘Any careful adult can test this at home.
‘For example, by painting your face with some pigmented liquid, using a large napkin or paper towel or even fabric, and wrapping it around your face.
‘Then take the fabric out, spread it on a flat surface, and see the resulting image.
‘This deformation is known as the ‘mask of Agamemnon’ effect, as it resembles that ancient artefact.’
Moraes, an expert at recreating historical figures’ faces, does not believe the shroud touched the body of Jesus.
‘I think the possibility of this having happened is very remote,’ he said.
‘People generally fall into two camps in the debates.
‘On one side are those who think it is an authentic shroud of Jesus Christ, on the other, those who think it is a forgery.
‘But I am inclined towards another approach: that it is in fact a work of Christian art, which managed to convey its intended message very successfully.
‘It seems to me more like a non-verbal iconographic work that has very successfully served the purpose of the religious message contained within.’
This is not the first time the shroud has been studied. The Shroud of Turin Research project (STURP) has conducted several investigations, with researchers arriving at different conclusions about whether the artefact touched the body of Christ.
Microscopist Walter McCrone concluded that it was painted with pigments of red and vermilion in gelatin and that there were no traces of blood on the shroud. Not all of his colleagues believed this to be true, however.
Even the Vatican has changed its stance on the artefact. As far back as the 14th century, Pope Clement VII admitted it was ‘a painting or panel made to represent or imitate the shroud’ rather than an object physically touched by Jesus. But in the 16th century Pope Julius II claimed the exact opposite.
In recent history, popes have generally decided to remove themselves from the debate entirely.
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