The Science Behind Nefertiti's Beauty: A Plastic Surgeon's Analysis

Introduction The famous stucco limestone coated “Bust of Nefertiti” housed in the Neues Museum, Germany dated 1,345 BC is an icon of beauty. Sculpted around three millennia ago by Thutmose, the bust still emits a charm that leaves its audience spellbound. However, no one, to the best of author'...

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Main Author: Neha Chauhan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2022-12-01
Series:Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
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Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0042-1759496
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author Neha Chauhan
author_facet Neha Chauhan
author_sort Neha Chauhan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The famous stucco limestone coated “Bust of Nefertiti” housed in the Neues Museum, Germany dated 1,345 BC is an icon of beauty. Sculpted around three millennia ago by Thutmose, the bust still emits a charm that leaves its audience spellbound. However, no one, to the best of author's knowledge, has analyzed this sculpture or its photographs objectively to determine if there is any scientific basis to its attractiveness. Materials and Methods High-resolution photographs of the bust were anthropometrically analyzed in frontal and right lateral profile views using neoclassical canons and Farkas' studies. Results The photographs of the bust exhibit many of the neoclassical canons and proportions of Farkas' studies exactly, while many of the remaining are very close to these measurements. A few measurements are out of range of what is considered acceptable these days; however, her overall appearance is pleasing. Conclusion Despite passage of more than three millennia, the proportions and parameters defining beautiful faces have largely remained unchanged.
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spelling doaj-art-06381584839b4aa5950fe28f653e5de02025-08-20T03:16:57ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery0970-03581998-376X2022-12-01550435736310.1055/s-0042-1759496The Science Behind Nefertiti's Beauty: A Plastic Surgeon's AnalysisNeha Chauhan0Department of Plastic Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, IndiaIntroduction The famous stucco limestone coated “Bust of Nefertiti” housed in the Neues Museum, Germany dated 1,345 BC is an icon of beauty. Sculpted around three millennia ago by Thutmose, the bust still emits a charm that leaves its audience spellbound. However, no one, to the best of author's knowledge, has analyzed this sculpture or its photographs objectively to determine if there is any scientific basis to its attractiveness. Materials and Methods High-resolution photographs of the bust were anthropometrically analyzed in frontal and right lateral profile views using neoclassical canons and Farkas' studies. Results The photographs of the bust exhibit many of the neoclassical canons and proportions of Farkas' studies exactly, while many of the remaining are very close to these measurements. A few measurements are out of range of what is considered acceptable these days; however, her overall appearance is pleasing. Conclusion Despite passage of more than three millennia, the proportions and parameters defining beautiful faces have largely remained unchanged.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0042-1759496beautyfaceanthropometrycalcium carbonatesculptureestheticsreference standardsplastic surgery
spellingShingle Neha Chauhan
The Science Behind Nefertiti's Beauty: A Plastic Surgeon's Analysis
Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery
beauty
face
anthropometry
calcium carbonate
sculpture
esthetics
reference standards
plastic surgery
title The Science Behind Nefertiti's Beauty: A Plastic Surgeon's Analysis
title_full The Science Behind Nefertiti's Beauty: A Plastic Surgeon's Analysis
title_fullStr The Science Behind Nefertiti's Beauty: A Plastic Surgeon's Analysis
title_full_unstemmed The Science Behind Nefertiti's Beauty: A Plastic Surgeon's Analysis
title_short The Science Behind Nefertiti's Beauty: A Plastic Surgeon's Analysis
title_sort science behind nefertiti s beauty a plastic surgeon s analysis
topic beauty
face
anthropometry
calcium carbonate
sculpture
esthetics
reference standards
plastic surgery
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0042-1759496
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