Recreating the face of Saint Valentine after 1,700 years.

Brazilian experts have for the first time recreated the facial features of Saint Valentine 1,700 years after he was executed by the Roman army for officiating wedding ceremonies for young couples.

Brazilian scientists useModern interactive 3D technology recreatesfacepatron saint of loversValentine, after studying his ancient skull,MirrorThe news was reported on February 14th.

They created a digital map of the remains.Saint ValentineThe facial reconstruction was carried out by Cicero Moraes, one of the country's leading computer graphic designers.

After researcher José Luís Lira took the photograph...The relics of Saint Valentine at the Santa Maria church in Cosmedin, Rome.Dr. Marcos Paulo Salles Machado, a forensic anthropologist,He then began directing the analysis team. The analysis results showed that the remains belonged to a European man aged 55 or older.

Despite limited access to the skull due to the remains being placed in a tiny glass reliquary adorned with a wreath, researchers have produced the first highly reliable image of a 3rd-century Roman priest.

From layering soft tissues and muscles based on anatomical principles to toning skin tone and facial features, the end result is a white-haired, bearded man with a benevolent face. He wears the ceremonial robe of a priest of that era, and the red color symbolizes his saintly title.

The face of Saint Valentine has been restored after 1,700 years. Photo: Caters News.

Using 43 selected images from 250, graphic designer Moraes employed photogrammetry and spatial scaling software to map and construct a 3D skull. Machado then analyzed the virtual head and confirmed the subject's origin, gender, and age without knowing who they were.

From his observations, Machado concluded that this was an adult male. He also analyzed features such as the area between the eyebrows, forehead, brow arch, eye sockets, and mastoid process (temporal bone behind the ear). Age was determined based on the development of the teeth.

"A complete analysis is difficult to perform because the photogrammetry can only capture a small portion of the front of the skull. Therefore, we still need to fill in the gaps," Machado shared.

Moraes used a highly compatible skull from a 3D digital library to complete the skull of Saint Valentine. He then adjusted the digital image and added anatomical details such as soft tissue, muscles, and cartilage using measurements from hundreds of middle-aged men of the same ancestry to depict the face.

"We are confident that we have found the true face of the patron saint of love and have uncovered much of what he looked like when he was alive," Moraes affirmed.

Although the life of Saint Valentine remains shrouded in mystery, legend tells that this priest defied danger to oppose the ban on marriage issued by Roman Emperor Claudius II.

Historians believe that Claudius II, wanting to build an invincible army with warriors unburdened by family responsibilities, ordered a ban on young men marrying. However, the priest Valentine defied the ban by secretly performing wedding ceremonies for couples, including many Roman soldiers.

Upon discovering this act, Claudius II ordered him imprisoned and tortured. During this time, many young people regularly threw flowers and love letters into the prison for him. Valentine was executed in 273, becoming the inspiration for Valentine's Day today.

According to VNE