Two mysterious sarcophagi were found below Notre Dame when it burnt down
Topics: News, World News
Gerrard Kaonga
Featured Image Credit: SARAH MEYSSONNIER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images / Chesnot/Getty Images
Topics: News, World News
The mystery surrounding the two sarcophagi discovered in the depths of Notre damn after it burnt down has been revealed.
The world seemed to come to a standstill as people across the globe watched as the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France went up in flames.
The historic moment happened on April 15, 2019 and reinvigorated interest into the renowned French monument the world over.
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But it appeared that the fire had revealed a few of the cathedral's hidden secrets.
As part of the rebuild three years later in 2022, discovery of not one but two sarcophagi drew in particular attention.
Workers rebuilding the landmark discovered the artefacts buried 20 metre underground among the brick pipes of the church’s 19th century heating system. However, the coffins are believed to be much older - possibly from the 14th century, according to France24.
In November 2022, the two sarcophagi were transferred from France’s national archaeological research institute to the University of Toulouse III where their contents were analyzed by experts.
And now, we have an idea as to who the coffins belong too.
The first sarcophagus was identified as belonging to a canon, Antoine de la Porte, who died in December 24 in 1710 at the age of 83, the university said in a statement.
Refered to as the 'Jubilee Canon', he was considered a wealthy man and was part of many projects, including the financing of Notre Dame’s choir.
His likeliness, along with included three medals, were also engraved into the sarcophagus.
It is believed that this may have been the reason that he was buried beneath the church - an honor reserved for elite members of the church.
Through the analysis of the body, scientists were able to discover a great deal about the priest - as his remains were largely still intact.
"All his bones are preserved as well as hair and beard hairs. More rare, archaeologists have taken textile remains." the statement said.
"For archaeologists and anthropologists, this rare identification will make it possible to compare his biography with observations of his skeletal remains".
They believe that due to his body showing little evidence of physical activity, he likely didn't stand up much during his lifetime.
They also found that he had gout, a disease that can be triggered by excessive eating, drinking and lack of exercise.
The second sarcophagus remains more of a mystery, however.
Despite little being known about the person’s identity experts believe he died between the ages of 25 and 40 and lived before la Porte’s lifetime.
The man inside remains anonymous but has been dubbed Le Cavalier, by archeologist. He got this title as his pelvic bones and upper legs indicate that he was an experienced horseman.
Professor of biological anthroplogy at the University of Toulouse, Eric Crubézy said: “He shows signs of someone who has been riding horses from a young age and he lost most of his teeth in the years and months leading up to his death."
This helps strengthen the idea that the man was of some nobility but suffered ill health.
He was also buried with the remains of leaves and flowers and analysis of his bones has suggested that he was sick for years.