Discovery Channel Documentaries

Revealed The Da Vinci Shroud (2009x45)

Air date: Jul 01, 2009

One of the holiest relics in Christianity, the Turin shroud is believed to have swathed the body of Christ after his death. The image of a bloodied, crucified man burned into the fabric of the cloth was first revealed in 1898 when it was captured in a photographic negative. Subsequent tests in 1988 ultimately dated the shroud to between 1260­1390AD, apparently confirming its status as a medieval forgery. According to Clive Prince and author Lynn Picknett, that forger was none other than Leonardo Da Vinci. A master artist, scientist and anatomist, Da Vinci was the only person with the talents to undertake such a project. Yet scientists have been unable to explain how the image was created. Over 50 attempts to duplicate the relic have failed. New research using Da Vinci’s other works for comparison has drawn some fascinating conclusions...