Jesus Christ is one of the most recognizable and famous faces across the Western corner of the world, but experts are now saying our interpretation of the Son of God is way off the mark. Unfortunately, there were no phones or cameras to snap a sneaky picture of the religious preacher back in his heyday around 27 to 29 AD, leaving historians to theorize that he looked like…well, like most other Judean men at that time.
They say it is unlikely the holy figure donned white robes, given this was seen as women’s clothing at the time, nor did he have pale skin coupled with long, flowing brown hair and a beard to match.
In reality, Jesus was ethnically Judean, coming from the region known today as Palestine, meaning his hair was more likely to be black and curly than brown straight locks.
If fashion in the first century AD also played a part in his get-up, Jesus would have had a beard but kept it on the shorter side.
Joan Taylor, professor of Christian origins at King’s College London, said: “To have long hair and a long beard signaled something in ancient Judaism – that you were keeping a special vow and not drinking wine.
“Jesus was actually accused of drinking too much, so he was not keeping such a vow.”
He probably looked nothing like this
What’s more, some of the very first images created of Jesus showed he preferred to sport a trimmed and neat look.
Paintings from the first half of the third century AD in a church in Syria suggest he had short hair above his collar and a clean-shaven face.
Yet historians say the artefacts reveal more about the culture of the time than what the miracle prophet looked like.
Professor Taylor said long hair on men in the first century AD was considered ‘rather unseemly.’
Fast forward to the fourth century AD, however, and depictions of Jesus started showing him with long hair and a beard.
Dr Meredith Warren, senior lecturer on Biblical and religious studies at Sheffield University, also told the news outlet that the artists might have altered Jesus’ looks based on perceptions, by linking him with powerful Roman gods, like Apollo and Zeus, to create the ‘all-powerful Christ.’
The fact Jesus liked wine probably played a part in his appearance
Dr Warren also says he would have had ‘brown skin, brown eyes, like the local population’ and, since he died before reaching 40 and spent a lot of time outdoors, he probably had ‘lines’ on his face.
The Bible also infers Jesus blended in among the crowds – like when Judas has to point Jesus out to soldiers amongst a crowd and when Mary Magdalene mistakes him for a gardener.
In other words, he wasn’t particularly distinctive from other Judean men at all.
However, surprisingly, historians say depictions of a rather ripped and lean-looking JC are probably right, saying he was far from a ‘couch potato.’
Dr Warren said his chiselled image isn’t ‘completely off the mark’, given his background in manual labor and long periods of travel and walking.
However, while he most likely did have washboard abs, the bulging biceps probably came from the God-like fantasy of Jesus.
Professor Taylor added: “He and his disciples essentially lived on hospitality, charity and they shared food, so I don’t think he ate that much. I see him more as wiry than bulky.”
