The Face Not Made By Hands

The Image of Edessa was a legendary relic said to be the first icon of Jesus. It was considered an acheiropoieton, a Greek term for an image miraculously created without human help.

This mysterious cloth supposedly arrived in the city of Edessa after Jesus pressed his face into it. Because it was believed to be divinely imprinted rather than painted, it became a highly sought-after holy object. The icon inspired countless imitations across the Byzantine Empire. It represents one of the earliest examples of humanity attempting to physically capture a divine likeness.