MovieChat Forums > Jesus Christ Discussion > Jesus Didn't Look Like That Photo

Jesus Didn't Look Like That Photo

posted 5 years ago by Keelai (36157)
33 replies | jump to latest

European Renaissance artists represented themselves instead of historical accuracy. For instance, Italian men wore their hair long, but Jewish men in Jesus era only wore their hair short. Historians have already described the typical Jewish man in Palestine as short, dark-skinned with dark curly hair. Jesus was also a carpenter which would likely make him muscular rather than skinny.

"Jesus was about 5 foot 5 inches (1.7 meters) tall, or the average height seen in skeletal remains from males there at the time. People in Judea and Egypt tended to have brown eyes, black hair and olive-brown skin, based on surviving archaeological remains, historical texts and depictions of people seen in mummy portraits from Egypt".

[–] [email protected] (6247) 4 years ago

Well of course he didn't! We also have Hollywood to thank for inaccuracy. When I saw "The Greatest Story Ever Told (as a child)starring Jeffrey Hunter, I always assumed Jesus had big blue eyes!

But we cannot limit criticism to European artists. All artists paint what they are familiar with and in the case of the Renaissance artists, it's doubtful that they ever SAW any people from the Middle East.

Mother Mary is also depicted as looking like a European woman. But have you ever seen art from Japan? The Madonna looks Japanese.

The portraits of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico render a dark skinned, Hispanic looking image of Mary.

I've seen artwork and statues from Africa and surprise, everyone looks black.

Art isn't science. It's feelings and interpretation.

[–] Keelai (36157) 4 years ago

There's a strong effort to make him look very WASPy, too. I used to listen to a conservative radio show in which the host and callers argued that Jesus was never Jewish.

The irony is that people tend to create God in their own image.

Middle-Eastern and black Jesus/Madonna are represented in a few early European artwork. There was a Middle Eastern and African presence in Europe which is shown in some Medieval and Renaissance paintings.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 4 years ago

Keelai-- very confused people to say Jesus wasn't Jewish!

God created man in His image. Another saying is, Man created God in his image. I suppose it's just natural. Artists paint what they see and know.

The famous portrayal of God touching the hand of Adam on the Sistine chapel is two white guys. Even as a child I knew from what I was taught that God was spirit. He was not any particular race. But Michaelangelo wanted to portray him somehow. So he chose a "look" that he was familiar with.

Interesting about Middle Eastern and black Jesus/Madonna art in early European artwork. I don't recall seeing those. I've looked through a lot of art history books and I even have the art series (on video) by the late nun, Sister Wendy who teaches all about European art.
Do you happen to know the names of any of those artists? I'm curious.

[–] Keelai (36157) 4 years ago

I heard it on Bob Grant's radio show many years ago. That mindset still exists:
https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/.premium-jesus-was-not-a-jew-remark-by-far-right-politician-sparks-outrage-in-italy-1.8204043

There are hundreds of Black Madonnas (& Jesus) in Europe. Artists unknown since they're very old. A pope visited one in Poland years ago and I've seen them repeatedly on travel TV shows especially in Spain since I was a kid. The problem is a lot of history is suppressed or changed in order to fit a narrative or an agenda. You have to be aware of that in order to dig further for the truth.

I just found a book on the subject n my library which I plan to read to learn more about it, "The cult of the Black Virgin" by Ean Begg.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 4 years ago

Poland/ Oh yes, you are referring to Our Lady of Czestachowa, the Black Madonna. The painting has been a beloved icon in Poland for many centuries. No one knows how old it is or who painted it. The Madonna and child look very dark. But they still have Caucasian features. The painting has been damaged by would be robbers several times.

I first saw a copy of the portrait in church when I was a child. A copy was being sent around to churches for people to see it.

Thanks for the link.

[–] Keelai (36157) 4 years ago

Young children had adult features, too. Their artistic skills in that era were limited.

You're welcome.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

PJ, Jeffrey Hunter wasn't in "The Greatest Story Ever Told". That was Max Von Sydow.

Jeffery Hunter was in "King Of Kings"

[–] [email protected] (6247) 4 years ago

Oops! I just remember seeing it at the Saturday matinee when I was a about eleven. The noise from all the kids in the audience was so loud I hardly heard any of the dialogue.

All those Bible epics run together through my mind, including Ben Hur and The Ten Commandments. In every case it's Hollywood actors more well coiffed and clean than desert people who have limited access to water and no barber shops would look. The women are fully made up including fall eyelashes.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Of course not, everyone knows Jesus actually looked like this:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d6/90/d0/d690d013f30e9fabda832d5f7e1f48e5.jpg

[–] jewoogle (2269) 4 years ago

if people represented Jesus like he actually looked like he wouldnt have been so popular. its a propaganda made by the church to get more money in indulgences and whatnot

[–] Quasimodo (16388) 4 years ago

Prove it !

[–] Satan2016 (26201) 4 years ago

We know what carpenters look like https://moviechat.org/nm1135559

[–] Jinx (3877) 4 years ago

It musta been hard being the only white guy in his area, bet he got picked on a lot poor thing.

[–] jasonbourne (1027) 4 years ago

Jesus was Aramaic, not white. More olive complexion. The illustrations you see of him were made to fit the artist's or society's perceptions.

[–] Jinx (3877) 4 years ago

I know bro, it was a joke. It's hard to tell sarcasm in text isn't it?

[–] Furienna (3377) 4 years ago

"For instance, Italian men wore their hair long, but Jewish men in Jesus era only wore their hair short."

Have you heard about nasirs? They were Jewish men with long hair.

[–] Keelai (36157) 4 years ago

The Nazirs were a minor sect. I'm talking norms.

[–] Furienna (3377) 4 years ago

Well, it is not like Jesus lived according to the norms while he was a wandering preacher.
Since we don't know much about what he did before be started preaching, some people have speculated that he might indeed have belonged to some sect.
And there's a mention in Acts 18:18 about Paul having let his hair grow as a part of a vow to God.
Of course, nobody knows if Jesus had made a similar vow.
And there's no real description of his appearance in the gospels anyway.
But it's not unthinkable that a highly religious Jewish man back then would have long hair.
John the Baptist is also often portrayed with long hair.

[–] Keelai (36157) 4 years ago

"John the Baptist is also often portrayed with long hair."
I'm talking historical, not fictitious or artistic portrayal.

"he might indeed have belonged to some sect."

I read only 10% of Jews officially belonged to a sect, but, their beliefs were influenced by them. Jesus' beliefs appear to be influenced by the Essenes and Pharisees beliefs. He created his own sect within Judaism which eventually broke-off from Judaism many years later.

Nothing indicates that he dressed or wore his hair differently from other men which is why I'm going with the norm.

[–] Furienna (3377) 4 years ago

It seems to me like we just have to agree that nobody knows for certain.

[–] Keelai (36157) 4 years ago

Historians have a general idea because of Jewish skeletal remains found in the area which were used in DNA facial reconstruction. They can determine height, build, age, skin hair and eye color, hair type, facial features.

I search for truth. I read how Jews were crucified by Romans. Much more gruesome and sick than anything shown in a painting or film. A historical Jesus film wouldn't be as uplifting, I guess.

[–] chilone (18331) 4 years ago

Anyone who knows you, knows what your thinly veiled search for "truth" is.

[–] Keelai (36157) 4 years ago

You're delusional if you think you know me.

[–] chilone (18331) 4 years ago

You're delusional if you think I don't.

[–] liscarkat (19418) 4 years ago

People from the Middle East can be olive skinned, brown skinned, or light skinned. They can have prominent noses or smaller ones. They can have dark, kinky hair or lighter, straighter hair. They can even have blue eyes. If Jesus existed, there is no way to know exactly what he looked like. The traditional portrait (like the one here on MC) is as good a guess as any.

[–] Keelai (36157) 4 years ago

Not talking about 2020.

Historians know what Jewish men from that era and area looked like.

BTW, Jesus didn't wear a long robe. And his name wasn't Jesus.