Height With regards to height, the average height for males during this time is approximately 166cm, being 5 ft 5. He was not super tall but actually rather short if you think about it. However, this at the time was the norm for men in this region. Jesus is thus interpreted as a man of Middle Eastern appearance with a scruffy yet short beard, he wore basic attire being a knee-length tunic and most likely an undied mantle.
Influence Multiple different regions, philosophers, and cultures represented Jesus in different ways, this is where images came from. It was not about his appearance but rather the vision of him being Christ and being the all-powerful that he is believed to be. Thus, the true image of Jesus was influenced by different times and regions which we will explore… From Greek and Roman to Westernisation and more the image is quite remarkably altered.
Greeks And Romans The Letter of Lentulus was published in the 15th century in ital and describes Jesus clearly, it is predicted to have been written by a Roman. The letter is believed to have influenced later drawings of Jesus. The letter said that his hair is the color of hazel-nut, straight and touches his ears. Moreover, they sad his face was youthful and he had a bit of a flushed tinge. The letter also said that his beard was full and matched bis hair, with the last translation being, “He is the most beautiful among the children of men.”
Western Times As one of the most common figures painted and drawn in Western art, it is safe to say that the image of Jesus has been altered into its own description and portrayal. This is one of the reasons behind the confusion and the contrast of the truth. In Western culture, Jesus is drawn with pale skin, a long beard, wavy long hair, and is always wearing white. Some interpretations feature him as a blonde with blue eyes and others with dark hair.
Alexamenos Graffito The Alexamenos graffito is a piece of graffiti found on a wall in Rome, it dates back between the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD. The drawing was supposedly drawn by a Roman who was in fact mocking a Christian soldier. The image apparently is representative of Jesus being crucified and uses much symbolism, it is the perfect example of how drawings can be inaccurate and have been shifted and changed throughout history.
Before Constantine In the canonical Gospels, there is no descriptive image or wording about Jesus, just that he wears tzitzit. It is said that he came as a “light from heaven,” in the Acts of the Apostles. However, throughout history with the changing and implementing of many rules regarding art, this may be the reason there was no accurate image. The Roman Empire persecuted Christians which led to hostility against art forms and idols in particular. Jesus was represented using pictogram symbols such as a fish, peacock as well as an anchor.
