Caracas, Venezuela (CNN) -- It's been more than 180 years since Venezuelans saw Simon Bolivar's face. But the revolutionary leader's thick sideburns, bushy eyebrows and steely gaze popped out from behind picture frames Tuesday in new 3-D images unveiled by President Hugo Chavez. Researchers used several software programs to reconstruct the face of the man who liberated Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela from the Spanish crown. Scans of Bolivar's skeletal remains, which investigators exhumed two years ago, factored into their calculations. So did historical paintings, photos of restored uniforms Bolivar wore and images of middle-aged Venezuelans, officials said.
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Researchers use computer programs to reconstruct Simon Bolivar's face
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez unveils new, 3-D portraits of Bolivar
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Researchers use data from skeletal remains exhumed two years ago
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An investigation into Bolivar's 1830 death has been inconclusive, the government says
In 1819, @placeholder founded Gran Colombia, a federation of what is now Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador.