Why did Marco Polo’s relatives and neighbors reportedly fail to recognize him when he returned to Venice?

The story of Marco Polo’s return to Venice in 1295, during which his relatives and neighbors reportedly failed to recognize him, is a well-known element of "Polo lore."1

While the specific reasons for this lack of recognition are often attributed to the passage of time and the dramatic nature of their long absence, the historical record notes that the Polos had been away for many years—having departed in 1271—and were widely presumed to be dead. Upon their return, they had spent decades immersed in foreign cultures, which likely contributed to significant changes in their appearance, dress, and mannerisms, making them unrecognizable to those who had long since given up hope of their return.21