Jul 18, 2024, 06:53 PM IST
The face of Ivan The Terrible, a notorious Russian king who died in 1584, has been digitally reconstructed by Brazilian graphic designer Cicero Moraes.
Ivan The Terrible was infamous for his brutal reign, including killing anyone he suspected of disloyalty and even murdering his own son, the only viable heir.
Moraes, who has reconstructed the faces of many historical figures, detailed his process in a YouTube video, as reported by the New York Post.
The digital reconstruction depicts Ivan as a balding man with greying hair and a beard.
Moraes described the reconstruction as an interesting experience that involved not only facial approximation but also studying Ivan's history.
Data for the reconstruction came from the scientific excavation of Ivan's grave by Soviet researcher Mikhail Gerasimov, which revealed Ivan's indulgent lifestyle of excessive eating and alcohol abuse.
The excavation also found a large amount of mercury in Ivan's body, which could suggest either poisoning or medicinal use for health issues of that era.
Moraes used historical descriptions of Ivan as "tall, with beautiful hair, broad shoulders, strong muscles, and a pleasant face" to create the final digital bust.