A Description Of Jesus?

[Always Free]

While watching a program on tv titled, 'The Face: Jesus In Art' a comment was made stating that there has never been found anywhere, an example of a physical description of Jesus. The program showed the many different faces of Jesus as artists depicted in their paintings over the centuries.

Is this comment true? Does anyone know of such a recorded description?

[Iacchus]

Seems like they had a program about this on the Discovery Channel last night. I think this may very well be the case, as opposed to the "Anglicized" or European version we tend to see on paintings.

[Brown]

There are physical descriptions of Jesus in some ancient documents, but these documents are generally recognized as fakes.

The Bible itself provides no physical description of Jesus.

There are hints that he may have been physically in good shape (otherwise he would not be able to drive moneychangers from the temple), and there are hints that he was rather ordinary looking (which is why Judas had to point him out to the arresting officers).

[triadboy]

Brown is correct.

We are at the mercy of artists in the middle ages. The depiction of the nails going through the hand (instead of between the wrist bones) The clothes depicted, in such works as, Da Vinci's Last Supper are way off.

How Jesus wound up a blue-eyed, white guy with bitchin' hair wearing a beach sarong is something to study.

[Mr. Skinny]

There is a related article at CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/12/25/face.jesus/) that discusses an article in Popular Mechanics. There is also a small graphic there speculating as to what Jesus may have looked like.

[Flaherty]

If I recall my art history correctly, early classical artists portrayed Jesus with short hair and a clean face -- a typical no-nonsense Roman. Then Byzantine Christians gave him a more Mediterranean (and Zeus-like) appearance with flowing hair and facial hair, and for whatever reason this is the one that held sway through the Middle Ages.

[Brown]

I have read some very interesting essays (of which I cannot site a single one, sorry) concerning various portraits of Jesus. One of the most well-known portraits was done to make Jesus look like a movie star. This same portrait also generated rumors that the model who posed as Jesus was a woman, because the portrait had such soft features.

Michaelangelo, in "Last Judgment," portrayed Christ as beardless, very like Apollo.

[Peter Jenkins]

There was a program on this, on the BBC, earlier in the year. The face they produced was based on a typical mediterranean/Jewish face.

Sort of like producing the face of Santa Claus based on a typical Finnish/Lapp face
Peter

[athon]

Could you imagine the looks on half of the fundies' faces when they made it into heaven? Jesus comes out, looking more like a Palestinian than a '70's hippie...classic.

Athon

[Always Free]

Are there not physical descriptions of many 'famous' people from way back then. Well known Romans and Egyptians for example. I would think that there should be thousands of paintings, drawings, descriptions of this man done by the people of the time.
Where are they?:(

[Kopji]

When I was a kid I visited a congregation where one of the members was renowned for having seen Jesus in a vision. Being an artist, she painted a picture of him and hung it in one of the classrooms where it probably hangs to this day.

He looked very Palestinian, so there ya go. ;)

[Rat]

Did we not already establish (I say we; I asked the question, others answered) that there is no proof that he existed, let alone left a portrait or description?

I seem to remember that not only is there no evidence of his existence, but circumstantial evidence that he didn't.

Cheers,
Rat.

[triadboy]

Originally posted by ratcomp1974
Did we not already establish (I say we; I asked the question, others answered) that there is no proof that he existed, let alone left a portrait or description?


Agree. It's like wondering what Mithra looked like.

[Rat]

I thought I remembered that a naval bulldog provided most of the answers for me, but I thought it might just have been another one of my episodes.

;)

Cheers,
Rat.

[Some Friggin Guy]

If I remember my early christian schooling correctly, the church is well aware of what Jesus looked like, but it is a sin to divulge that to anyone.

Being an atheist now, I think it's no big deal if I tell you that Jesus looked a lot like Gary Coleman.

[triadboy]

Originally posted by Some Friggin Guy
If I remember my early christian schooling correctly, the church is well aware of what Jesus looked like, but it is a sin to divulge that to anyone.

The 'church' never had a clue what he looked like and didn't venture a guess for hundreds of years. If I'm not mistaken there isn't any representation of him until well into the 3rd century.

But, of course, I don't think he existed anyway.

[Some Friggin Guy]

I know, Triad. I actually agree with you. I was making a stupid comment, as I tend to do when dealing with certain issues.