BackgroundIn the absence of clear guidelines for facial aesthetic surgery, most surgeons rely on expert intuitive judgement when planning aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. One of the most famous theories regarding “ideal” facial proportions is that of the golden proportion. However, there are conflicting opinions as to whether it can be used to assess facial attractiveness. The aim of this investigation was to assess facial ratios of professional black models and to compare the ratios with the golden proportion.MethodsForty photographs of male and female professional black models were collected. Observers were asked to assign a score from 1 to 10 (1 = not very attractive, 10 = very attractive). A total of 287 responses were analysed for grading behaviour according to various demographic factors by two groups of observers. The best graded photographs were compared with the least well-graded photographs to identify any differences in their facial ratios. The models’ facial ratios were calculated and compared with the golden proportion.ResultsDifferences in grading behaviour were observed amongst the two assessment groups. Only one out of the 12 facial ratios was not significantly different from the golden proportion.ConclusionsOnly one facial ratio was observed to be similar to the golden proportion in professional model facial photographs. No correlation was found between facial ratios in professional black models with the golden proportion. It is proposed that an individualistic treatment for each ratio is a rather better method to guide future practice.

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Kastrokephala in Crete is a fortified site located on a hill above Heraklion bay. From around 1200 to 1150/1130 BCE a small community lived on this hill, protected by a thick wall and high precipices. Archaeological evidence suggests that in this settlement Mycenaean immigrants coexisted with the native population.

Knossos survived the collapse of Aegean civilizations towards the end of the Bronze Age and prospered in the Early Iron Age (eleventh to seventh centuries BCE) by developing strong cultural and commercial links with the Aegean, Cyprus and the Near East. After a decline during the Archaic period (sixth century BCE), Knossos acquired substantial power in the Classical and Hellenistic period (fifth to first centuries BCE) and the city expanded considerably. A few decades after the Roman conquest in 67 BCE Knossos became a Roman colony and continued to be, at least for the first and second centuries CE, one of the most prosperous cities of the island.