Budapest Exhibition Recreates Faces of Ancient Romans

Archaeologists in Budapest, Hungary reconstructed the faces of three individuals who lived in the Roman city of Aquincum nearly 2,000 years ago. The exhibition, titled “Once we were like you”, combines archaeological finds, anthropological studies, and DNA analysis to create lifelike facial reconstructions.

Displayed alongside the original skulls, the recreated faces are paired with fictional names, occupations, and imagined life stories intended to humanize the remains. Experts used 3D-printed replicas of the skulls to rebuild facial features, estimating details like hair and skin color based on scientific evidence.

The curators acknowledge that the biographies are fictional, built on historical naming customs and anthropological data, but emphasize the goal of connecting modern audiences with the people who once inhabited the distant frontier of the Roman Empire. The exhibition at the Aquincum Museum runs until October 31, 2027.