Father Christmas: Saint Nicholas' face revealed
- Published
The portrait includes the saint's severely broken nose, which healed asymmetrically
The "most realistic" portrait of the saint who became Santa Claus has been produced at a Liverpool university.
Saint Nicholas was a 4th Century bishop who liked to give gifts secretly. His relics lie in Bari Cathedral in Italy.
The image of him has been created using a facial reconstruction system and 3D interactive technology by Liverpool John Moores University's Face Lab.
Professor Caroline Wilkinson said it was based on "all the skeletal and historical material" available.
The saint, who died in 343, was the Greek bishop of Myra. The town, now known as Demre, lies on the southern coast of Turkey.
He was said to have left secret gifts, such as putting coins in shoes that were left out for him, leading him to be the model for Father Christmas.
A spokeswoman for the university said the new depiction uses "the most up-to-date anatomical standards, Turkish tissue depth data and CGI techniques".
It also includes Saint Nicholas' severely broken nose, which she said had "healed asymmetrically, giving him a characteristic nose and rugged facial appearance".
Revealing the portrait on the saint's feast day, 6 December, Prof Wilkinson said it was "thrilling to be able to show the face of this famous bishop".
Saint Nicholas
Born in 270 in the then-Greek town of Patara, he travelled to Palestine and Egypt, before returning to become bishop of Myra
Imprisoned during the reign of Roman emperor Diocletian, but later released by his successor Constantine
After his death in 343AD, his burial site by his church in Myra became a shrine
Sailors stole his remains in 1087 and took them back to Bari, where they remain enshrined