Surprising identity of skeleton found under Notre Dame Cathedral

(NLDO) - The skeleton in the lead-lined coffin exposed when Notre Dame Cathedral burned down turned out to belong to a famous figure of the French Renaissance.

According to Live Science, a research team led by Professor Éric Crubézy, an anthropologist from the University of Toulouse III and Research Director of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), has discovered the identity of the "horseman" in Notre Dame Cathedral.

Researchers analyze mysterious skeleton under Notre Dame Cathedral - Photo: INRAP

Previously, during the restoration of the cathedral after the 2019 fire, a lead-lined coffin containing a mysterious skeleton was discovered just below the nave.

This coffin was placed near the coffin of the priest Antoine de la Porte, a very high-ranking religious dignitary in Paris, who died in the early 18th century.

This led scientists to suspect that the mysterious man was also an important figure.

A preliminary analysis by the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University Hospital of Toulouse (France) showed that the man's skeleton showed signs of bone tuberculosis, meningitis and a hobby of horse riding, so he was nicknamed "the horseman".

In the new study, a team of CNRS scientists and colleagues compared many details in the life of the French Renaissance poet Joachim du Bella, a famous figure in the 16th century, but died young.

The skeletons show a perfect match. First, it was a man who died young. The poet Joachim du Bella died at the age of 37.

"He was a skilled horseman who suffered from both of these diseases, which are mentioned in some of his poems," said Professor Crubézy.

The poet's family belonged to the royal court and the Pope's close entourage, and there are also documents stating that he was buried in Notre Dame Cathedral, but the grave is unknown.

Born in Anjou in the Loire Valley of western France in 1522, poet Joachim du Bella later moved to Paris and Rome, where he produced his important works during the French Renaissance.

After many years of poor health, he died in 1560 at the age of 37.

According to Professor Crubézy, bone tuberculosis can be the cause of early death.

In addition to this Renaissance poet and priest Antoine de la Porte, more than 100 other tombs were found beneath the Notre Dame Cathedral floor after the 2019 fire and restoration work.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/danh-tinh-bat-ngo-cua-bo-hai-cot-o-duoi-nha-tho-duc-ba-paris-196240926101017459.htm