Forensic Reconstruction of a Holy Relic of Mary Magdalene

Is this Mary Magdalene? Forensic reconstruction of a holy relic puts a face to the skull of a Saint

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11923170

The reconstructed face taken from a skull said to have belonged to Mary Magdalene. Photo / Philippe Charlier, Philippe Froesch / National Geographic

The relic is one of the most precious in all Christendom.

It's a blackened skull. A scattering of bones. A bundle of human hair.

But these human remains have been kept as holy relics in a crypt beneath a basilica of a medieval town in the south of France for more than 1800 years, Reports new.com.au.

For centuries, the fame of their supposed owner has been attracting inquisitive pilgrims eager to seek a tangible link to the origins of their faith.

Now, scientist have been able to put a face to the skull many believe belongs to one of the most controversial players of the New Testament.

"We are absolutely not sure that this is the true skull of Mary Magdalene," biological anthropologist from the University of Versailles Philippe Charlier told National Geograpic.

"But it was very important to get it out of anonymity."

TALES THE DEAD TELL

The legend of Mary Magdalene's skeleton being in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume emerged in the late 13th Century.

The story goes that renovations of the basilica at that time uncovered a series of 1st Century tombs. One of them contained a marble sarcophagus.