Shroud of Turin
Christ Pantocrator
(the earliest extant icon of Christ, Saint Catherine's Monastery, 550 AD)
Computerized overlay
computerized density average
In the 1930's, French Shroud scholar Paul Vignon described a series of common characteristics visible in many early artistic pictures of Jesus. The Vignon markings, as they are known, all appear on the Shroud suggesting that it is the source of later pictures of Jesus.
- A square U-shape between the eyebrows.
- A downward pointing triangle or V-shape just below the U-shape, on the bridge of the nose.
- Two wisps of hair going downward and then to the right.
- A raised right eyebrow.
- Large, seemingly "owlish" eyes. This may be the result of coins placed over the eyes.
- An accent on the left cheek and an accent on the right cheek that is somewhat lower.
- A forked beard. Dr. Whanger (see below) has suggested that this may the result of a chin band tied around the head to keep the mouth closed.
- An enlarged left nostril.
- An accent line below the nose and a dark line just below the lower lip.
- A gap in the beard below the lower lip.
- Hair on one side of the head that is shorter than on the other side
(All from Shroud History)