The appearance of the Seljuk sultans was recreated by Turkish DNA experts
Sculptures reflecting the appearance of the Seljuk sultans who ruled Anatolia from 1077 to 1308 were exhibited at an exhibition that opened on Thursday at the Dar-ul Mulk Exhibition Center in Konya (Turkey), Anadolu reports.
The exhibition is dedicated to the Turkish Seljuk dynasty. The appearance of the sultans was recreated thanks to the DNA tests obtained and the anatomical features of the subjects being studied. The project, which involved dozens of specialists from various fields of science, started in 2017 and took place in six stages. Each exhibit at the exhibition is accompanied by detailed information telling about the stages of the scientists’ work and information that sheds light on the history of the Anatolian state during the reign of the Seljuks.
In the first phase of the project, tomography was carried out at Necmettin Erbakan University on the remains of skulls recovered from the dynasty tomb in the courtyard of the Alaaddin Mosque. In total, it was possible to reproduce the appearance of 17 members of the dynasty, 12 of whom were sultans.
They also recreated the fabric for the sultans' clothing, which was woven according to samples taken from private collections and museums and in accordance with historical data. The same applies to the weapons and jewelry of the Seljuk rulers.
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