New X-ray analysis appears to prove that the Shroud of Turin does indeed date to the time of Jesus Christ, allowing an artificial intelligence to recreate a stunning image of what many believe to be Christ himself.
Christians have long believed this precious relic to be Jesus' burial shroud and that it bears the imprint of their Savior's face.
According to a study published in Heritage magazine, dating analysis in the 1980s suggested the painting was actually a forgery from the 1300s, but new X-ray dating evaluations suggest it dates to the time of Christ, 2,000 years ago.
The AI's assessment of the fabric painted a clear image of a man with shoulder-length hair and a beard. Daily Express/Midjourney
That knowledge has enabled cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create a vivid, eerily lifelike reconstruction of the facial impression that believers are certain was left on the cloth at the moment of Christ's resurrection.
One image drawn from facial markings by the AI site MidJourney was eerily similar to many classic art historical depictions of Jesus, including his shoulder-length hair and beard.
The AI image showed wounds on the man's chest, suggesting he had recently been tortured and killed, according to the Daily Express newspaper, which produced the images.
Another version produced by the Daily Mail shows a similarly dressed figure with deep-set blue eyes and a similarly covered head with long hair and a trimmed beard.
An AI rendering of the Shroud of Turin obtained by The Washington Post shows the man in a more contemplative pose, with his eyes closed and mouth slightly open.
The Shroud of Turin is a controversial relic venerated by Catholics. Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Dr Liberato De Caro, leader of Heritage Analysis, claimed that wide-angle X-ray analysis proved that the Shroud of Turin matched samples of a similar cloth found at Masada in Israel between 55 and 74 AD.
“The experimental results are consistent with the hypothesis that the Shroud of Turin is a 2,000-year-old relic,” the study said, arguing that previous conclusive analyses had been flawed due to contamination.
AI technology generates depiction of what Jesus' face might have looked like. robfolio – stock.adobe.com
Dr De Caro added that the Shroud's linen fibres contained tiny particles of pollen from the Middle East, which seems to refute the idea that the fabric came from Europe.
De Caro's team carried out their analysis on a small sample of the Shroud, which is currently kept in the Cathedral of St. John in Turin, Italy.
Pope Francis prays before the Shroud of Turin in 2015. AFP via Getty Images
The study authors are quick to point out that their new conclusion only holds if the fragile artifact was stored at average temperatures and relative humidity levels of 55 to 75 percent over the 13 centuries until it entered recorded history in 1354.
The authenticity of the Shroud has been debated for hundreds of years, and the Catholic Church has not taken an official position on its validity.
However, several popes have recognized the shroud as a miraculous relic, including Pope Francis, who made a pilgrimage to Turin in 2015 and prayed before the Shroud.
