During archaeological excavations in Türkiye, an ancient tombstone has been discovered that is believed to belong to the person who inspired the legend of Santa Claus.
Archaeological excavations in the city of Demerah (ancient Myra) in Antalya, Turkey, have led to an exciting discovery: a tombstone that archaeologists believe belongs to Saint Nicholas, the 4th-century benevolent bishop who inspired the beloved Santa Claus. This discovery can reveal the secret of the burial place of this historical figure, which has been discussed for centuries.
The first clue of Santa’s real grave
This two-meter limestone tombstone was found three meters deep in the ground and in the vicinity of San Nicola Church, located in Damre. This church has long been known as the possible burial place of this saint and has been under archaeological excavations since 1989. The recent discovery is considered to be the most important find obtained in this area to date.
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The exploration project was carried out under the supervision of Professor Ebro Fatma Fendik from Hatay Kamal University and within the framework of the “Heritage for the Future” project. Prof. Fendick said that finding a tombstone near the church known as San Nicola shows that we are in the holy place. He also considered this discovery as an important confirmation of historical sources about the burial place of San Nicola.
The research team hopes to get more detailed information about the identity of the buried person by discovering an inscription on the tombstone. This inscription can reveal details of his life and the exact time of his burial. Currently, only the top surface of the tombstone is fully exposed and a small part of the burial chamber is visible. Archaeologists plan to continue their excavations in the coming months to uncover more evidence.
San Nicola: From History to the Legend of Santa Claus
Saint Nicolas, who was born around 260 AD in Myra (now Demara), was an influential figure in the history of early Christianity. As the bishop of the region, he gained great fame because of his charity and generosity. Many stories have been told of his helping the poor and needy, especially children and sailors. Over the centuries, these stories were mixed with legends and laid the foundation for the formation of the legendary character of Santa Claus.
Legends about San Nicola first spread in Northern and Eastern Europe and were brought to America by Dutch immigrants in the 17th century. His Dutch name Sinterklaas (Sinterklaas) became Santa Claus (Santa Claus) in America and from there it made its way to other parts of the world. In Iran, we know this character by the French name “Santa Claus”.
The figure of Santa Claus, with his long white beard, red clothes and bag full of presents, has become a universal symbol of Christmas and New Year celebrations today. But there is not much documented information about the real life of San Nicola. What is known is that he was buried after his death in around 343 AD in the church that was built in his name.
One of the historical uncertainties is the exact place of his burial. There are traditions that claim that his remains were illegally transferred to the city of Bari in Italy in 1087. Although scientific studies have been carried out on the bones found in Bari, so far no definitive evidence has been obtained that they belong to San Nicola.
A recent discovery in Demere has given hope to solve this historical mystery and provide more information about the real life and tomb of San Nicola. Continued excavations and possibly the discovery of an inscription on the tombstone can help us to understand more deeply this historical figure and the cultural roots of Santa Claus.
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