Using a morph-based animation to visualise the face of Pharaoh Ramesses II ageing from middle to old age

Ramesses II was one of the most important Pharaohs to have presided over Egypt during the New Kingdom period. In 2023 researchers Wilkinson, Saleem, Liu and Roughley produced two digital 3D facial depictions showing Ramesses II at different ages: one around the age-at-death at 90 years old and the other, an age-regression at approximately 45 years old, based CT scans of his mummified remains, photographs, and historical information. The presence of two 3D facial depictions of one ancient individual at different ages affords an opportunity to show how Ramesses II might have looked during key moments of his lifetime and just prior to death. This paper describes the workflow adopted to add realistic textures to the facial depictions, and to use a morph-based animation to represent Ramesses II ageing from 45 to 90 years old. • Digital textures have been added to two digital 3D facial depictions of Pharaoh Ramesses II; at age of death and middle age. • A morph-based animation between the two facial depictions affords a holistic representation of Ramesses II ageing. • Digital methodological challenges in animating the two 3D facial depictions are described and addressed.