A century's discovery in Antalya: The tomb of Santa Claus has been found
An important discovery has been made in the church named after Saint Nicholas, the man known worldwide as Santa Claus, who was born in the city of Patara in Antalya and died in Myra, located within the present-day borders of Demre.
The sarcophagus uncovered in the lower floor of a two-story building surrounding the church is believed to possibly belong to Saint Nicholas.
HISTORIC DISCOVERY IN THE CHURCH: A SARCOPHAGUS FOUND
During ongoing excavation work at the Saint Nicholas Church in Demre, Antalya, an exciting discovery was made. While conducting drilling work beneath the two-story structure located to the south of the church, a sarcophagus, approximately 2 meters in length, was uncovered. After earthquakes and tsunamis in the Middle Ages, the area was covered with alluvial deposits, and this sarcophagus, located beneath the ancient church floor, is thought to possibly belong to Saint Nicholas.
APPROXIMATELY 2 METERS STILL UNDERGROUND
Dr. Ebru Fatma Fındık, the excavation leader, noted that the sarcophagus uncovered through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's "Heritage for the Future" project was made of local stone and had a simple design. Dr. Fındık mentioned that only the lid of the sarcophagus is visible at the moment and that the excavation will continue deeper, approximately 1.5 to 2 meters further down. "During this process, we hope to find an inscription on the side of the sarcophagus," she added.
THE SARCOPHAGUS CAME OUT FROM UNDER MEDIEVAL REMAINS
The sarcophagus, believed to have been covered by layers of sand and gravel due to tsunamis and floods in the Middle Ages, has been preserved thanks to this natural process. Dr. Fındık emphasized that this discovery provides strong archaeological evidence that Saint Nicholas’s tomb is located here.
MADE FROM LOCAL LIMESTONE
The sarcophagus, about 2 meters in length, is said to have a plain and unembellished structure. During investigations at the location of the sarcophagus, fragments of clay oil lamps and animal bones were also uncovered.
NEAR SAINT NICHOLAS’S TOMBSITE
According to sources, it is known that Saint Nicholas was buried in a sacred burial area in Myra. This sarcophagus is considered one of the most important pieces of evidence found so far regarding the location of Saint Nicholas’s tomb.
HISTORICAL CHURCH IMPORTANT FOR FAITH TOURISM
This church, believed to house the tomb of Saint Nicholas, one of the most significant saints in the Christian world, attracts thousands of tourists each year. Special ceremonies are held in the church on December 6th, the anniversary of Saint Nicholas’s death.
MOSAIC FLOOR ALSO UNCOVERED
In 2022, excavations revealed the mosaic floor of the church, believed to date back to the 3rd century. This floor is considered one of the areas used by Saint Nicholas during his time.
THE ORIGINS OF THE SANTA CLAUS FIGURE
Saint Nicholas, known for secretly helping those in need and for his story of saving three small children, is an important inspiration for the creation of the Santa Claus figure.
This discovery of Saint Nicholas’s tomb has generated great excitement both in the world of archaeology and in faith tourism. After detailed studies are conducted on the sarcophagus, more information about this important find is expected to be revealed.
