The face of Saint Nicholas of Myra, the historical figure who inspired Santa Claus, has been revealed for the first time in nearly 1,700 years. Using data collected from his skull, scientists “forensically recreated” the face of this revered Christian saint, who was known for his generosity.
Who Was Saint Nicholas of Myra?
Saint Nicholas was a Christian bishop whose legendary gift-giving inspired the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which eventually evolved into Santa Claus. Over time, Sinterklaas merged with the English Father Christmas to form the modern-day figure celebrated worldwide.
Despite his global recognition, there was no clear visual representation of Saint Nicholas—until now. For the first time, his “living face” has been reconstructed, offering insight into his appearance.
A Strong Yet Gentle Face
Cicero Moraes, the lead author of the study, described the reconstructed face as having a “strong and gentle” appearance. He remarked that it was “curiously compatible” with the description of Santa Claus in the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas (commonly known as ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas).
“The skull has a very robust appearance, generating a strong face, as its dimensions on the horizontal axis are larger than average,” Moraes explained. “This resulted in a ‘broad face’ curiously compatible with the 1823 poem. This characteristic, combined with a thick beard, is very reminiscent of the figure we have in mind when we think of Santa Claus.”
How Was the Face Created?
Moraes and his team used data collected in 1950 by Luigi Martino to reconstruct the saint’s skull in 3D. “We initially reconstructed the skull in 3D using this data,” Moraes shared.
The team then employed statistical projections to trace the facial profile. “We supplemented this with the anatomical deformation technique, in which the tomography of a living person’s head is adjusted so that the virtual donor’s skull matches that of the saint. The final face is an interpolation of all this information, seeking anatomical and statistical coherence,” he explained.
The Legacy of Saint Nicholas
Jos Luis Lira, a study co-author and expert on saints, highlighted the saint’s historical and spiritual significance. “He was a bishop who lived in the early centuries of Christianity and had the courage to defend and live the teachings of Jesus Christ, even at the risk of his life,” Lira noted.
Lira emphasized Saint Nicholas’s universal appeal: “He challenged the authorities, including the Roman Emperor, for this choice. He helped those in need so frequently and effectively that when people sought a symbol of kindness for Christmas, the inspiration came from him. His memory is universal not only among Christians but among all peoples.”
The reconstructed face offers a glimpse into the man whose generosity and courage gave rise to one of the most beloved figures in global culture.
