Description

The Shroud bears the image of a naked man, seen from both the front (ventral) and back (dorsal) views. The images are aligned head-to-head. 

Full width Shroud of Turin

The man appears to have suffered wounds consistent with crucifixion, including:

  • Wounds on the wrists and feet: Consistent with nail wounds.
  • Wounds on the back: Consistent with scourging or flagellation.
  • Wounds on the head: Consistent with the crown of thorns.
  • A wound on the side: Consistent with a spear wound.

Unique Characteristics

The image on the Shroud is not a typical painting. It has several unique characteristics that have puzzled scientists for centuries:

  • Superficiality: The image is only present on the outermost fibers of the cloth.
  • 3D Information: The image encodes three-dimensional information, allowing researchers to create a 3D reconstruction of the man's body.
  • Lack of Pigments: No paints, dyes, or pigments have been found on the Shroud.