The fair skin colour used in the 3D reconstruction of Egypt’s Queen Nefertiti is causing some racial backlash

The face of Egypt’s ancient Queen Nefertiti has been brought to life using a 3D imaging technology by scientists at a UK university.

 

It took 500 hours to recreate the bust, while the necklace was handcrafted by designers from Dior, but the color of the queen’s skin has raised controversy, with some arguing that she would have been darker in reality.

 

The reconstruction was undertaken by scientists from the University of Bristol who digitally painted the ancient queen to embody her true features. Before the painting work, the photographer, Idan Dodson received permission from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and the Egyptian Museum to remove the protective glass case that covers the Nefertiti mummy to examine it.

 

The digitally mapped face will be aired on US Travel Channel’s Expedition Unknown. The 3,400-year-old queen ruled Egypt from 1353 to 1336 BC and is thought to be the mother of King Tutankhamun.

 

See some of the online reactions below...

When you leave your history to the hands of white people to help examine and reconstruct why won't Queen Nefertiti come out looking like a ghost not resembling her true BLACK self. Uhhh! 🙄 smh #todayshow pic.twitter.com/Hu9VvPfIzz

— Jon Ogah (@Jonogah) February 6, 2018

When you leave your history to the hands of white people to help examine and reconstruct why won't Queen Nefertiti come out looking like a ghost not resembling her true BLACK self. Uhhh! 🙄 smh #todayshow pic.twitter.com/Hu9VvPfIzz

— Jon Ogah (@Jonogah) February 6, 2018

Now y’all really tried it!! So this is Queen Nefertiti? The Today Show should know better! Egypt is in Africa not Northern Europe! she look like a 3rd cousin to the Kardashian’s. You can’t change that people and never will be able to! STOP IT! Give the correct history 🗣 pic.twitter.com/BcJTMYpKCi

— CinnaPeach 😋🍑 (@xodes) February 6, 2018

Dear Black children,#QueenNefertiti didn’t look like Cher.
She was Black. That’s a Fact.@Today Show was wrong.
That’s a Fact too.#BlackHistoryMonth ✊🏾

— Danielle J. Buhuro (@DaBuhuro1) February 6, 2018

Why are they white washing #Queen #Nefertiti? 😣 pic.twitter.com/KOC3WA9FJo

— Jo (@joy_y_felicidad) February 5, 2018

i swear white people are out of their rabbit fucking minds if they really gon say queen nefertiti looked like an average bitch at starbucks.

— lani tsunami 🎈 (@exotictypeshit) February 6, 2018

They made a replica bust of what they think queen Nefertiti looked like and they made her a white woman. pic.twitter.com/G4HjXxQeFp

— kelsey 💲💲💲 (@billnihilism69) February 5, 2018

You know this is a Lie. Queen Nefertiti and the Ancients Egyptians were People of Color. They had Melanin in their skin. They were not White. Quit with the Lies. pic.twitter.com/V6jBLKhAFR

— Loretta Thomas (@lor693) February 6, 2018

I refuse to accept that Egyptian Queen Nefertiti looked like Katie from Trader Joe's https://t.co/TBiEBgniBT

— mOCHAHONTA$ (@jaeeexo_) February 6, 2018

I Don't Think King Tut's Mother, Queen Nefertiti, Was Lady Gaga | Awesomely Luvvie https://t.co/E0PCdejrKR

— Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie) February 5, 2018

It’s Black History month, and the @TODAYshow had the devil is a lie audacity to say Queen Nefertiti is white, Until the pillage from those white invaders along with the traders, for riches, that led to the down fall of Kemet(Egypt), nothing White in Egypt, All was shades of black pic.twitter.com/6735Qke2r9

— Young Poet (@LordLuminous) February 6, 2018

credit: Linda Ikeji's Blog http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2018/2/the-fair-skin-colour-used-in-the-3d-reconstruction-of-egypts-queen-nefertiti-is-causing-some-racial-backlash.html