By T.K. Randall
October 19, 2022 · 1 comment
The real-life Santa Claus. Image Credit: PD
The tomb of St Nicholas – the real-life inspiration behind Santa Claus – lived and died around 1,700 years ago.
The discovery, which was made by archaeologists with the provincial cultural heritage preservation board in Antalya, Turkey, centers on the ancient church of Demre – a town in the country’s Antalya district which was submerged by rising sea levels in the Mediterranean many centuries ago.
In later years, a second church was constructed on top of the old one to help protect it and it is this church that has been subject to recent archaeological excavation and study.
Now researchers working at the site have finally managed to uncover the ruins of the old church and have revealed the original floor on which Saint Nicholas himself would have once stepped.
It’s a significant find because archaeologists have been searching for his tomb for years.
“The first church was submerged with the rise of the Mediterranean Sea, and some centuries later, a new church was built above,” said the preservation board’s leader, Osman Eravsar.
“Now we have reached the remains of the first church and the floor on which Saint Nicholas stepped.”
“The tiling of the floor of the first church, on which Saint Nicholas walked, has been unearthed.”
The man himself became the real-life inspiration behind the modern-day Santa Claus due to his alleged generosity and for the various miracles that were attributed to him.
The story goes that he rescued three girls from prostitution by visiting their home each night and throwing gold coins through the window so that their father could pay a dowry on each one.
This later contributed to the idea of Santa Claus entering people’s homes and leaving presents.
Source: LBC.co.uk | Comments (1)
