The face of Ivan the Terrible, the Grand Prince of Russia who is often renowned as a vicious tyrant, has been reconstructed by scientists as part of a new research project.
The Russian Tsar, who died some 440 years ago in 1584, was just three years old when he rose to power and was in his thirties when he gradually deteriorated into a state of paranoia, ordering the brutal execution of anyone he perceived to be a traitor.
Recognised as responsible by historians for thousands of deaths, including the killing of his own son, Ivan IV is frequently described as history’s “cruellest man”.
Now, Cicero Moraes, a Brazilian graphics expert, has used a combination of cutting edge techniques to create a scientific reconstruction of the Tsar’s likeness.
Using data gathered from a scientific excavation of the Tsar’s grave by Soviet researcher Mikhail Gerasimov, Moraes was able to gain a clearer picture of how Ivan IV’s lifestyle likely affected his physical appearance.
Moraes reported: “According to Dr Gerasimov’s study, it appears that Ivan indulged in a disorderly life of excessive eating and alcohol abuse.
“This must have worsened his condition in his last years.”
He added: ‘This is in contrast to the appearance he had when younger, when he was described as tall, with beautiful hair, broad shoulders, strong muscles and a pleasant face.”
The final reconstruction has been developed using a combination of scientific approaches and analysis of Gerasimov’s findings.
Moraes used data from living donors to establish the likely thickness of the Tsar’s skin at different points across his skulls and used a technique called anatomical deformation to digitally alter the head shape to the dimensions of Ivan the Terrible.
Moraes described the final results as a “strong and determined” likeness of the Russian tyrant.
Ivan IV died aged 53 during a game of chess and was succeeded by his second son, Feodor Ivanovich.
