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In Turkey, archaeologists have discovered a casket said to be that of the first Santa Claus.
Naturally, we are referring to the early Christian bishop Saint Nicholas, who served as the inspiration for the cheerful Christmas presenter-giver, rather than the reindeer-owning, sleigh-driving Santa.
Since 1989, scholars have been excavating the St Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya, Turkey, which is thought to be the final burial place of Saint Nichols of Myra (now Demre), who died in 343 AD.
In addition to being Greek, he served as the inspiration for Sinterklaas, a similar Dutch holiday character, and Santa Claus.
The bishop reportedly gave to the poor, even spending his inheritance on aiding those in need, according to history.
Saint Nicholas was a kind guy overall, yet he also left pennies in people’s shoes and gave them secret gifts.
However, it appears that archaeologists have discovered anything related to the well-known religious figure.
Although Theodosius II, the Byzantine Emperor, asked that a larger cathedral be constructed on the same location in his honor, he passed away and was buried there.
His remains were transferred into a sarcophagus and subsequently positioned at the new church in order to preserve them.
The remains of Saint Nick already have a rich history because, in 1087, Italian criminals stole his bones from his sarcophagus, and during the first Crusade, sailors also stole the remaining bones.
It is uncertain whether the bones belonged to the Saint, according to Heritage Daily, even though others were discovered in Bari and Venice that matched the same individual.
However, in 2024, archaeologists found a limestone coffin in the church’s two-story annexe, which they think might have belonged to Saint Nicholas.
Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Associate Professor Ebru Fatma Findik led the dig.
The professor told Turkiye Today that researchers from the “Legacy for the Future Project” who were on the scene claimed that the stone coffin was six feet deep and that they didn’t realize they were on a graveyard until they discovered animal bones and pieces of clay lamps.
Since there have been long-standing theories over the site of Santa Claus’s actual grave, it is still unknown if the coffin actually belongs to him.
Findik clarified: “According to certain accounts, St. Nicholas was laid to rest close to the city of Myra’s hallowed district.
The discovery of a sarcophagus close to the church, which is believed to be the location of his tomb, may prove that this is the hallowed space we have been looking for.
“This is a significant archaeological confirmation of historical sources regarding the burial place of St. Nicholas,” said the investigator.
However, as they continue to look for hints, just the lid has been discovered thus far, while a tiny portion of the burian chamber is visible.
Finding an inscription on the sarcophagus is our greatest desire.
The Associate Professor emphasized, “This would help clarify the burial contents and allow us to determine the exact period it dates to,” adding that further information regarding their results is anticipated in the next year.
