This Is What Our Ancient Ancestors Really Looked Like

Myrtis – The 11‑Year‑Old Girl From Ancient Greece

Myrtis died of typhoid fever during the Plague of Athens in 430 BC, at just 11 years old. Her skull was unearthed from a mass grave in Athens, and scientists used the Manchester method to reconstruct her face. She’s the first ordinary ancient Greek whose face has ever been reconstructed. She looks like any 11‑year‑old – a haunting reminder that children suffered in ancient times too.